Rams-Dolphins Betting Guide for Week 8

Last Updated: Jan 9, 2021

The Los Angeles Rams visit the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET. Here’s our Rams-Dolphins Betting Guide.

Los Angeles Rams (5-2) at Miami Dolphins (3-3)

All odds and lines from PointsBet, current as of Wednesday at 2 p.m. ET.

Rams-Dolphins Betting Guide

Rams-Dolphins Odds and Betting Lines

  • Against The Spread: Rams -4 (-110)/Dolphins +4 (-110)
  • Moneyline: Rams (-216)/Dolphins (+170)
  • Total: 46 — Over 46 (-110)/Under 46 (-110)
  • Implied Team Totals: Rams 25, Dolphins 21

The Rams, winners of three of their past four games, will travel to Miami to take on the Dolphins, who are also winners in three of their past four matchups, after losing their first two games of the year.

This game will also feature the first career start for rookie QB Tua Tagovailoa after the Dolphins elected to bench veteran journeyman signal-caller Ryan Fitzpatrick entering their Week 7 bye.

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Rams-Dolphins Injury Report

Rams

  • TE Tyler Higbee (hand), Questionable
  • G Joe Noteboom (calf), Out
  • RB Darrell Henderson (thigh), Questionable
  • WR Robert Woods (groin), Questionable

Dolphins

  • LB Kyle Van Noy (groin), Questionable
  • WR DeVante Parker (ankle), Questionable
  • DE Shaq Lawson (shoulder), Questionable
  • NT Davon Godchaux (biceps), Out


Rams-Dolphins Players to Watch

Rams QB Jared Goff has led his team to a 5-2 record, but he must pick it up statistically if they are going to make a legit run.

In his past four games, Goff has passed for fewer than 219 yards three times with a 7:2 TD:INT in that span.

Goff will look to get back on track in a tough matchup facing a Dolphins defense allowing the 16th-fewest passing yards per game (236.0).

Rams-Dolphins Betting Guide: Jared Goff
Rams QB Jared Goff travels to Miami in highly anticipated showdown with rookie Tua Tagovailoa. (ProSports/Shutterstock)

While the Miami defense has surrendered north of 360 passing yards twice this season, they have yielded fewer than 186 yards in 3-of-6 games including in each of their past two matchups.

The Dolphins defense has also allowed fewer than one touchdown pass in 4-of-6 games this season including three games with zero.

Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa will make his first career start on Sunday. While the Dolphins were playing well under Fitzpatrick, there was no better time to make the transition to their future than entering their Week 7 bye to give the fifth-overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft time to prepare for the Rams.

At this point, the Dolphins are playing well enough to be mentioned in the Wild Card conversation or better, with their fate resting on the shoulders of a rookie signal-caller with two career attempts to his name.

The Rams aren’t the greatest first opponent for Tagovailoa, though, as they not only bring one of the NFL’s stingiest defenses, but they also employ one of the leagues most menacing pass rushes led by the elite Aaron Donald.


Rams-Dolphins Weather Report

The weather at Hard Rock Stadium calls for a sunny afternoon with 75% humidity and a 3% chance of precipitation at kickoff.

The temperature is forecast for 85 degrees Fahrenheit with 10 mph winds going in the direction of East-Northeast.


Rams-Dolphins Betting Guide

BEST BET: Under 46 (-110)

While both the Rams and Dolphins have talented skill-position assets to score points on the offensive side of the football, the strength of these teams falls on their defense. Miami has surrendered the third-fewest points per game (18.8) in the NFL this season, while the Rams are allowing the second-fewest (17.7).

The total has hit this 4-1 in the Rams’ last five games and 4-2 in Miami’s last six.

The Rams and their opponents have combined to score more than 46 points in only two of seven games played this season while the Dolphins and their foes have combined to score greater than 46 points in 3-of-6.

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CONSIDER: Dolphins +4 (-110)

The Rams and Dolphins are a pair of the most defensively dominant teams in the NFL. And although their offenses have enough firepower to pop on any given Sunday, this matchup will be close.

The Dolphins are 4-2 against the spread this season and 4-1 ATS in their last five games.

PASS: Dolphins Moneyline (+170)

Sure, the Dolphins Moneyline is enticing. While they are playing well with a 3-1 record in their last four games, two of those wins were over the Jaguars and Jets with the coming other over a banged-up 49ers club.

What’s more, Miami is 0-2 against teams with a winning record. In a perfect Disney-story world, Tua Tagovailoa will have a masterful outing and win in his first career start. But this is not a perfect world. Not in 2020 and not facing that punishing Los Angeles front seven.

I like the Dolphins to cover the spread, but the Rams will win their second consecutive game and fourth out of their past five on Sunday.

Anthony Cervino is 10-6-1 on his NFL Best Bets in 2020.

Prepare Week 8 betting tips and plan

Author

Anthony Cervino

Anthony Cervino is an NFL Writer and Betting Analyst for The Game Day. He is also a lifelong NFL savant and self-proclaimed league historian. In the industry, Anthony has excelled in both the fantasy football and sports betting space with fantasy his proverbial bread and butter. Anthony has made appearances on SiriusXM, amongst other publications. He is also the co-creator of the FF Faceoff (Faceoff Sports Network) and the FF Faceoff Mental Health Podathon partnered with the Hayden Hurst Foundation. Industry Clout: 15th most accurate ranker in the FantasyPros ECR for both draft and in-season accuracy (2019) | 8th most accurate ranker in the FantasyPros ECR for sleepers (2020) | 13th most accurate ranker in the FantasyPros ECR for in-season accuracy, including 2nd at quarterback and 3rd at tight end (2021).

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