The Los Angeles Rams (3-6) head down to the Big Easy to take on the New Orleans Saints (3-7) in a game between two teams dealing with plenty of adversity at the moment.
The defending champion Rams dropped their third consecutive game in Week 10 to the Cardinals, and in the process, lost Cooper Kupp to injured reserve with a high ankle sprain.
Meanwhile, the Saints were defeated by the Steelers, 20-10, in Pittsburgh, and Andy Dalton‘s struggles for a second consecutive week have head coach Dennis Allen reportedly considering a switch back to Jameis Winston for this game.
With plenty to consider, let’s dive into our Los Angeles vs New Orleans best bets, predictions and betting tips for this Week 11 clash.
Rams vs Saints Odds
The Saints’ status as four-point home favorites as of Tuesday afternoon on FanDuel Sportsbook isn’t altogether surprising despite their own poor play of late, as Matthew Stafford still isn’t a certainty to clear concussion protocol for Los Angeles, while Kupp’s absence takes away L.A.’s most consistent weapon by far.
The projected total of 38.5 points is also to be expected considering each team’s offensive struggles and the fact that the Rams’ problems now project to only get worse.
Take a look at the best Rams odds and Saints odds for the 2022 NFL season.
Rams vs Saints Implied Totals
Saints 21.25, Rams 17.25
Oddsmakers clearly see another largely unproductive afternoon for the Rams offense despite what can be an inconsistent Saints defense at times, with the removal of Kupp from the equation naturally playing the biggest role in that thinking.
Rams vs Saints Pick of the Day
Read more on this Rams vs Saints bet below.
Rams vs Saints Prediction
Saints 24, Rams 20
Allen is almost certainly engaging in a bit of gamesmanship at this early stage of the week when he concedes to only mulling a change at quarterback. New Orleans is fighting to remain relevant in any postseason conversation and has seen Dalton throw for a modest 384 yards and post a 2:3 TD:INT over his last two games.
A move back to the more dynamic, mobile Winston seems the prudent strategy, especially with a third straight matchup against another defense that can get after the quarterback with success.
Winston wasn’t perfect by any stretch during his time in the starting role earlier in the season, tossing five INTs to only four TDs. However, the 2015 first overall pick did complete 13 passes of at least 20 yards, including four of at least 40, in just 115 attempts.
That compares favorably to Dalton, who’s actually recorded just 12 completions of at least 20 yards in 217 passes overall. If Winston does return to the starting job, he naturally won’t have Michael Thomas (toe) at his disposal, but he will have access to Chris Olave, a now-healthy Jarvis Landry and a speedy rookie in Rashid Shaheed that Winston may be able to maximize the talent of.
On the other side, the Rams will naturally have to make a seismic shift in their offense without Kupp available, but they’re not devoid of weapons by any stretch. The talented Van Jefferson will now shift into a No. 2 role, and the combination of his speed and route running should leave him well-equipped for the added responsibility.
Moreover, the experience second-year wideout Ben Skowronek gained when Jefferson was down earlier in the season should certainly pay off now that he’ll be asked to reprise his No. 3 receiver role behind Jefferson and Allen Robinson.
Naturally, the upside of the entire passing game is capped to a degree if Wolford is under center, and if the Rams’ porous offensive line can’t consistently block an aggressive Saints front that boasts 28 sacks already. Ultimately, that will likely make the biggest difference in this game and lead to a narrow home win for New Orleans.
Rams vs Saints Bet Tips
Here are a few Rams vs Saints betting trends to consider before making your bets:
- The Rams are 2-6-1 against the spread, including 1-1-1 as a road team and 2-5-1 against NFC opponents.
- The Saints are 3-7 ATS, including 2-3 as a home team and 2-4 in conference games.
- Los Angeles is 17-12-2 ATS after a loss since Sean McVay‘s arrival in 2017.
- This line would presumably move even a bit higher in favor of the Saints should Winston be announced as the starter and/or Stafford was ruled out for a second straight week.
Rams vs Saints Best Bets
Over 38.5 Points (-114) at FanDuel Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
As mentioned, I expect Winston to return to the starting role for the Saints, and I believe that will provide a spark for New Orleans’ offense, especially at home.
The fact New Orleans got a tad healthier with the return of Landry from an ankle injury in Week 10 certainly doesn’t hurt, either, while a Stafford return for L.A. would give the Rams a bit more punch, even with Kupp down.
Before placing this bet, get the best Rams promo codes.
Saints Moneyline & Over 38.5 Points (+176) at FanDuel Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
Building on the belief in a Saints win and the Over hitting, this makes for a great path to combining both outcomes and avoiding the nearly -200 juice on a straight moneyline bet.
New Orleans’ home-field edge has been a bit dulled this season — the Saints are just 2-4 straight up there — but three of those losses came by a combined 17 points against the Buccaneers, Vikings and Bengals — teams in much better shape than the Rams at the moment.
Before placing this bet, get the best Saints promo codes.
Rams vs Saints Props
Check out the best Rams vs Saints player prop bets this week with our props comparison tool. Click on “Show More Games" below to find the Los Angeles vs New Orleans game and see all of its prop bets.
