The Buffalo Bills are projected to be favored in every game they play during the 2022 NFL schedule. Perhaps the only one that caught football observers by surprise is that they are the betting favorite against the Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams on Thursday in the 2022 NFL Kickoff Game at SoFi Stadium. Buffalo is also the betting favorite at 6-1 to win this season's Super Bowl and has taken four of the last five meetings with Los Angeles. The Rams have won five consecutive season-openers under coach Sean McVay and raised the Lombardi trophy the last time they played on their home turf. They defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20 in Super Bowl 56 in February.
Kickoff in Inglewood, Calif. is set for 8:20 p.m. ET. Caesars Sportsbook lists Buffalo as a 2.5-point favorite in its latest Bills vs. Rams odds, with the over/under for total points scored set at 53. Before making any Rams vs. Bills picks, make sure to check out the expert NFL predictions and betting advice from SportsLine expert Mike Tierney.
A veteran sportswriter whose work appears periodically in the New York Times and Los Angeles Times, Mike Tierney has covered the NFL for decades and reported from seven Super Bowls. Over the past four seasons, Mike is 232-204 ATS in his NFL picks. He is also 12-7-1 on his past 20 against-the-spread picks in Bills games, returning more than $400 to $100 bettors.
Now, Tierney has honed in on Bills vs. Rams in the NFL Kickoff Game 2022 and just revealed his NFL expert picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see his picks. Here are several NFL odds and betting trends for Rams vs. Bills:
- Bills vs. Rams spread: Buffalo -2.5
- Bills vs. Rams over/under: 53 points
- Bills vs. Rams money line: Buffalo -135, Los Angeles +115
- Bills: Defense allowed 4.6 yards per play in 2021, the only NFL team under 5.0
- Rams: QB Matthew Stafford averaged 8.1 yards per pass attempt, third-best in the NFL
- Bills vs. Rams picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why the Bills can cover
There was concern about the continuity of the offense following the departure of Brian Daboll, the former offensive coordinator who left to become the head coach of the New York Giants. Daboll is widely credited with helping quarterback Josh Allen develop from a strong-armed raw talent who was considered a risky first-round pick to one of the top signal-callers in the NFL.
However, the team's management and Allen have expressed confidence in Ken Dorsey, who was promoted to offensive coordinator following three seasons as quarterbacks coach. Bills coach Sean McDermott and other staff members have praised Dorsey's attention to detail, his drive to win and his ability to connect with players. Moreover, Allen said he holds Dorsey in the same regard as he does Daboll, Dorsey's predecessor. "I trusted Daboll with my life and I think I'd be willing to say the same thing for Dorsey," Allen said.
Why the Rams can cover
The Rams won all three games as underdogs last season and have won and covered the spread in all five Week 1 games under coach Sean McDermott. The offense led by Stafford (4,886 yards, 41 TDs) and receiver Cooper Kupp (145 catches, 1,947 yards) is the key to success. Now they have a healthy Cam Akers, who had 248 total yards in four playoff games last year. His backup, Darrell Henderson, rushed for 114 yards in the last meeting with the Bills in 2020. Buffalo allowed 100 yards per game on the ground last season, 13th in the league.
Buffalo's defense will be without All-Pro cornerback Tre'Davious White, who is on the PUP list, and star safety Jordan Poyer's availability is in question. The Rams' defense has no such concerns, and the Aaron Donald-led unit will hunt for big plays. The three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year had two sacks of Allen in the last meeting, and L.A. was third in the NFL in sacks (50) and interceptions (19) last season. The defense yielded 17 TD passes in 2021, second-fewest behind Buffalo. The Rams are 11-8 ATS as underdogs since 2017.
How to make Rams vs. Bills picks
Tierney has done a deep dive into the Bills vs. Rams matchup, and he is leaning Under on the total. He also says there is a critical X-factor that makes one side of the spread a must-back. He's sharing what it is, and which side to back, only at SportsLine.
Who wins Rams vs. Bills in the NFL Kickoff Game 2022? And what critical X-factor makes one side a must-back? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Rams vs. Bills spread you should be all over in the NFL Kickoff matchup, all from the expert who's 12-7 on spread picks involving the Bills.
