Account
New York Giants vs. Los Angeles Rams Betting Odds, Analysis, NFL Pick
October 18, 2016
The New York Giants (3-3) and the Los Angeles Rams (3-3) will both try to move over the .500 mark and put pressure on the leaders in their respective divisions when they meet Sunday at Twickenham Stadium in London.
The Giants are small favorites against the Rams and will try to win for the seventh consecutive time in the series while covering the spread in the eighth straight meeting.
Point spread: The Giants opened as 2.5-point favorites; the total was 43.5 early in the week, according to sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark. (Line updates and matchup report)
NFL pick, via Odds Shark computer: 25.0-21.4 Rams (NFL picks on every game)
Why the Giants can cover the spread
Wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. showed how valuable he is to New York's offense in a 27-23 win over the Baltimore Ravens last week, finishing with eight catches for a week-high 222 yards. Beckham made two long touchdown receptions that combined for 141 of those yards. The latter came on a 4th-and-1 play with 1:24 remaining and improved their win expectancy by 73.1 percent, according to PredictionMachine.com.
If Beckham continues to be focused and keeps his cool, he is one of the NFL's best offensive players and a difference-maker who can help the Giants contend for the NFC East title. The key will be making sure he stays involved.
Why the Rams can cover the spread
Los Angeles has dropped two in a row but stayed competitive for the most part, falling just short last week in a 31-28 road loss to the Detroit Lions. Many critics point to quarterback Case Keenum as the weak link offensively, but he threw for a season-high 321 yards and three touchdowns at Detroit.
Instead, it is second-year running back Todd Gurley who must step up and help Keenum balance out the offense, something that he should do versus the Giants. The Rams are 4-0-1 against the spread in their last five games after consecutive against-the-spread losses under head coach Jeff Fisher, and they should be primed to rebound.
Smart pick
New York is just 1-5 ATS in its last six games against NFC West foes, and Los Angeles has won five of its past seven SU and ATS as an underdog. Those two betting trends are strong enough to overcome the recent series success for the Giants and give the Rams a slight edge. Look for Gurley to break out across the pond as Los Angeles pulls off the upset.
Betting trends
The Giants are 7-0 ATS in their last seven games against the Rams.
The Rams are 4-0-1 ATS in their last five games after consecutive ATS losses.
The Rams are 5-2 SU and ATS in their last seven games as an underdog.
All NFL betting lines and point-spreads 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.