Detroit Lions vs Los Angeles Rams Matchup

Check out our free Rams vs Lions pick and preview for this NFL week 1 game in Detroit. See who we like to win and cover the spread in this week 1 regular season matchup.

The Lions are favored at -182 on the money line as they prepare to face the Rams at 8:20 ET on Sunday, September 8th. The game, featuring a point spread of -3.5 in favor of the Lions, will be televised on NBC. The over/under line is set at 51 points for this week one matchup at Ford Field in Detroit.

Rams vs. Lions Matchup At A Glance

Sport: NFL
Teams: Los Angeles Rams at Detroit Lions
Where: Detroit at Ford Field
Date: Sunday, September 8th
Betting Odds DET -3.5, LAR +152 | DET -182 O/U 51

Rams Preview:

The Rams went 5-3-1 against the spread as underdogs last season and 6-3 ATS as favorites. Los Angeles finished the 2023 regular season with a 10-7 record, placing 2nd in the NFC West and earning the 6th seed in the NFC. They excelled within their division, going 5-1, but struggled in non-conference games, going 2-3. The Rams' playoff run ended in the Wild Card round with a surprising 24-23 loss to the Lions.

Against the spread, the Rams were 11-6-1 overall. On the road, they went 7-3 ATS, and at home, they went 4-3-1. Their games averaged 46 points per game, with an over/under record of 9-9, ranking 9th in the league in average combined scoring. Los Angeles was 8-5-1 ATS against teams with winning records and 3-1 ATS against teams with losing records.

Rams Offense Breakdown

The Rams' offense was one of the better units in the league last season, finishing 5th in the power rankings. They averaged 23.7 points per game, ranking 9th in the league, and put up 362.9 yards per game, which was 7th best. Los Angeles excelled in the passing game, averaging 245.6 yards per game on the 6th best passing yards per attempt figure in the league.

On the ground, the Rams averaged 117.4 rushing yards per game and were 8th in the league on third down, converting at a rate of 42%. They also had the 8th best figure in the league in terms of their home and road scoring averages.

Rams Team Defense

Opponents converted on 38.6% of their third down attempts against the Rams last season, which was right at the league average. The Rams' defense was 22nd in the league, allowing 22.3 points per game. They were also 18th in yards allowed, giving up an average of 337.7 yards per game. In terms of takeaways, the Rams forced 15 turnovers, and their turnover differential was 11th in the NFL.

Against the pass, the Rams gave up 232.4 yards per game (21st). However, they were tough to score on in the red zone, giving up the 15th-ranked red zone scoring percentage. They also excelled in limiting rushing touchdowns, allowing the 6th fewest in the league.

Lions Preview:

Lions Offense Breakdown

The Lions' offense was one of the best in the league last season, averaging 30.1 points per game, which was 3rd best in the NFL. They were also 3rd in the league in yards per game, averaging 394.8. Detroit had a strong regular season, going 12-5 and finishing 3rd in the NFC. They were particularly dominant at home, going 8-2, and they were also good on the road, going 6-4.

Against the spread, the Lions were 14-6, and they were 11-5 when favored. Their playoff run was ended in the NFC Conference Championship game with a 34-31 loss to the 49ers. The Lions were tough to beat when favored, going 13-3 in such situations, but struggled as underdogs, going 1-3.

Lions Team Defense

Opposing offenses targeted the Lions' secondary last season, as Detroit defended the 3rd fewest rushing attempts in the league. The Lions' defense as a whole allowed 23.8 points per game, ranking 25th in the NFL. They also gave up 257 passing yards per game, which was 31st in the league, and 354 total yards per game, which was 23rd.

Despite allowing a lot of passing yards, the Lions' defense was able to force 23 turnovers, which was 8th in the league. They also finished 5th in quarterback hits but were only 14th in sacks. In the red zone, the Lions were 27th in allowing scores, with opponents scoring on 66% of their red zone trips.

Rams vs Lions Betting Odds, Trends & Analysis

Across the Rams last ten road games, the team averaged 23 points per game while allowing 23. Their record vs the spread in these contests was 7-3, while going 5-5 straight-up.
In their last ten games at home, the Lions have a straight up record of 6-4 while going 8-2 vs. the spread. The team averaged 24 points per game in this stretch.
Looking back on the team's last five games as the underdog, the Rams have a straight up record of 1-4. Their record vs the spread in these games was 3-2.
In their last five games as the betting favorite, the Lions have a strong straight up record of 5-0. In addition, their ATS record was 4-1 in these scenarios.