Buffalo Bills vs. Los Angeles Rams Betting Odds, Analysis, NFL Pick

The Buffalo Bills haven't won three games in a row since the beginning of the 2011 season. In fact, Buffalo is 0-9 straight up and 1-7-1 against the spread its last nine times out following consecutive victories. The Bills carry a two-game winning streak with them across the country this week to take on a Los Angeles Rams team riding a three-game streak Sunday at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

Point spread: The Rams opened as three-point favorites; the total was 40 early in the week, according to sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark (line updates and matchup report).

NFL pick, via Odds Shark computer: 24.0-15.2, Rams (NFL picks on every game)

Why the Bills can cover the spread

After opening this season with consecutive losses, Buffalo has won two straight, most recently a 16-0 blanking of the New England Patriots in Foxborough last week. Of course, New England had to start a rookie at quarterback in place of the suspended Tom Brady, but as far as the Bills are concerned, a win is a win—especially against the hated Patriots.

Buffalo took an early lead last week on a seven-yard LeSean McCoy catch and bumped that advantage to 13-0 with a pair of Dan Carpenter field goals.

Then, on the biggest play of the game, with New England driving late in the second quarter, Bills linebacker Zach Brown drilled Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett, causing a fumble Buffalo would recover and putting a halt to New England's only real scoring threat of the day.

The Bills defense then finished off the shutout from there, as Buffalo won outright as a three-point dog. Buffalo outgained the Patriots, 378-277, and won time of possession by a 36-24 margin.

Two weeks ago, the Bills intercepted Arizona quarterback Carson Palmer four times on their way to a 33-18 victory over the Cardinals.

Why the Rams can cover the spread

After opening the season with a bad loss to a bad San Francisco team, the Rams have suddenly won three straight, including a 17-13 upset at Arizona last week. Los Angeles took an early lead on a Case Keenum-to-Brian Quick 65-yard catch-and-run for a score, then fell behind 13-10 late in the third quarter.

However, they regained the lead on another Keenum-to-Quick pass with about two-and-a-half minutes to go and held on from there.

Los Angeles actually got outgained by the Cardinals, 420-288, but forced five Arizona turnovers and knocked Palmer out of the game.

Keenum threw the two touchdown passes last week without a pick, and now owns a 4-1 ratio of touchdowns to interceptions during this three-game winning streak.

Smart pick

Buffalo is 0-6 in its last six trips to the West Coast. Meanwhile, Keenum may not be the long-term answer at quarterback for Los Angeles, but as long as he doesn't start turning the ball over and stretches the Bills defense a bit to provide some space for running back Todd Gurley to roam, the Rams stand an excellent chance of extending their winning streak to four.

Betting trends

The Bills are 5-2 SU and ATS in their last seven games against the Rams.

The Rams are 4-1 SU and ATS in their last five games after a win.

The Bills are 0-9 SU and 1-7-1 ATS in their last nine games after consecutive wins.

All NFL betting lines and point-spread data courtesy of Bleacher Report’s official odds partner Odds Shark. All quotes gathered firsthand unless otherwise noted. Check out Twitter for injury and line-movement updates and Odds Shark YouTube for picks and analysis, or download the free odds-tracker app.