Los Angeles Rams vs. Seattle Seahawks: Week 1 Odds, Lines, Picks & Best Bets
Betting Matchup Preview
- Who: Los Angeles Rams at Seattle Seahawks
- When: Sunday, Sep. 10 (Week 1)
- Time: 1:25 p.m. PT / 4:25 p.m. ET
- Where: Lumen Field (Seattle, WA)
Betting Odds Summary
- Spread: Rams +5 (-110), Seahawks -5 (-110)
- Moneyline: Rams +180, Seahawks -210
- Total: Over/Under 47 (-110/-110)
The Seattle Seahawks will look to build on their 2022 Wild Card berth, and it starts in Week 1 against the Los Angeles Rams. The Rams are coming off a disappointing 2022 season where their defense was terrible and injuries destroyed the offense.
Matthew Stafford and Cooper Kupp missed the entire second half of the season, and these two were the lifeblood of the offense.
The Rams sold their soul to win the Super Bowl two years ago, but the activity might have wrecked their roster for years. Bettors can determine if this is true relatively early in the 2023 NFL schedule.
Los Angeles will be better if they stay healthy, but the talent isn’t up to par with their Super Bowl team from 2021. They should have an average defense, but Matthew Stafford must live up to his contract for the team to succeed.
The best story of 2023 was the rise of Geno Smith late in his career. A second-round selection in 2013, Smith quickly lost his opportunity to be a starting quarterback in the NFL.
Pete Carroll gave him another chance to start last season after stints as a journeyman backup, and he delivered.
Smith won Comeback Player of the Year after throwing for 4,282 yards and 30 touchdowns, resulting in a seventh-place finish in QBR. Seattle signed Smith to a three-year deal in the offseason, but there is still doubt around the quarterback based on his career performance.
One thing going for Smith is his talent on the offensive side of the ball. He will throw to DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett and the best rookie receiver in the class, Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
Moneyline: Rams vs. Seahawks Week 1
The moneyline is a risky play on both sides. The Seahawks are -210, so it would take a $210 risk to win $100. The Rams are +180, so a $100 wager would win $180 and pay out $280.
Each team has flaws, but we would lean toward Seattle in the opener. However, for the high sports betting vig, it’s best to look to one of the other traditional markets.
Smith is due for some regression, as he hasn’t posted comparable numbers to 2022 at any other point in his career. Typically, quarterbacks don’t improve at age 32, so we’re skeptical.
The same goes for Stafford, who missed most of the 2022 campaign. He also wasn’t anywhere near his best when he was on the field.
Seattle is superior to Los Angeles, but this should be a tightly contested matchup. For this reason, we recommend staying away from the moneyline and looking toward the spread.
Spread: Rams vs. Seahawks
Online betting sites set the spread at five points in favor of the Seahawks. Seattle has high expectations heading into the season, but we believe they will fall short.
The decline may not happen immediately, but it’s hard to think that Smith can sustain his success from 2022 to this upcoming season.
The Rams and Seahawks had similar defenses in 2022, but Los Angeles was slightly better in a few key areas. They surrendered fewer points per game and had one of the better front seven units in the NFL.
Future Hall of Famer Aaron Donald leads this group, so expect a stout unit this season.
Opposing teams dominated Seattle on the ground last year, and Sean McVay is one of the best play callers in the game. Look for him to let Stafford settle into a rhythm and pound the football behind Cam Akers and Sony Michel.
The offensive line will be a work in progress, but they can handle the Seahawks’ defensive front.
Underdogs can often bark in Week 1 as teams acclimate to their talent in the new year.
We believe the Rams can go on the road and surprise Seattle. This doesn’t mean they’ll win the game, but we like them to be competitive and cover the spread.
Over/Under Total: Rams vs. Seahawks
Oddsmakers set the Over/Under at 47 points, a high number in Week 1. Seattle had a top-10 scoring offense a year ago, but their defense didn’t defeat Los Angeles.
They were unable to win consistently because of injuries to key offensive players. The Rams should have a respectable defense coming into the year, especially on the ground.
This style will put much pressure on Smith early in the contest. We also expect the Rams to focus on locking down Metcalf or Lockett, adding more responsibility to rookie receiver Smith-Njigba.
Seattle has potential to score, but it will be hard in Week 1 against an above-average Rams defense. Los Angeles shouldn’t do much scoring, either.
They will find success on the ground, but this will burn clock and take possessions away from both sides. The Under is a viable betting option for all these reasons.
What Could Cause Odds Shifts?
The oddsin this game should stay relatively stable, barring injuries to key players. The Rams had their fair share of the injury bug one year ago.
This should add caution to McVay’s preseason approach. Don’t expect Stafford or Kupp to make one appearance in the preseason.
These two players missed half of 2022, but they’re veterans. It’s too risky putting them out in meaningless games. If McVay handles the preseason like this with most of his starters, we shouldn’t see many significant injuries.
Carroll will similarly handle the preseason, so we expect both rosters to be healthy coming into the opener, barring any practice issues.
Expectations could also change how this game is bet by the public. The Rams don’t have any high praise heading into the year, but they still have some strong pieces.
If bettors believe in these talents based on their appearance in training camp, it may cause a swing toward the underdog. This money would shift the line toward Los Angeles.
