The Cardinals and Rams will face each other this weekend at State Farm Stadium in Phoenix, with each squad looking to carry over momentum from their Week 2 wins. This divisional clash pits Cardinals stud QB Kyler Murray against the reigning Super Bowl-champion Matthew Stafford and Super Bowl MVP receiver Cooper Kupp. This contest should be the highlight of the late-game slate Sunday afternoon, so we’re here to get you fully prepared for it from a betting standpoint.
If not for Lamar Jackson and Tua Tagovailoa’s insane shootout over the weekend, Kyler Murray and the Cardinals might have been the talk of the NFL leading into Week 3. Murray helped Arizona battle back from a 16-point deficit on Sunday, scoring two straight touchdowns and two-point conversions and forcing overtime in Las Vegas. The Cardinals then beat the Raiders in overtime with an Isaiah Simmons forced fumble scooped-and-scored by Byron Murphy Jr.
This win has the Cardinals riding high, just what the doctor ordered for Kliff Kingsbury’s squad after an opening-weekend flogging by Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. Arizona had struggled to keep up with Kansas City’s high-powered passing attack, clearly missing the services of suspended All-Pro wideout DeAndre Hopkins. Week 2’s road victory erased all that bad energy, and now Murray and company get a home divisional tilt with a Rams squad clearly suffering from Super Bowl hangover syndrome.
Many factors seem to be contributing to L.A.’s lukewarm start. QB Matthew Stafford doesn’t seem 100 percent due to an elbow injury. The Rams clearly miss wideouts Odell Beckham (free agent), Robert Woods (now with the Titans), and Van Jefferson (recovering from knee surgery). Cam Akers’ recovery from a 2021 Achilles’ tear seems to be ongoing, too.
Here’s the worst part: the Rams’ two most important factors — offensive line and defense — just aren’t where they need to be. L.A. has turned the ball over six times in two games, Stafford has been sacked eight times, and the Rams have allowed 58 total points.
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So, what can we expect from this NFC West battle? Here’s everything you need to know from a betting focus, including tips, trends, storylines, and our moneyline, spread, and over/under predictions.
Cardinals vs. Rams odds for Week 3
Betting odds courtesy of Sports Interaction.
- Spread: Rams -3.5 (-110) | Cardinals +3.5 (-110)
- Over/Under: 48.5
- Moneyline: Rams -183, Cardinals +152
The reigning champions opened as -4.5 favorites, briefly jumped to -5, and have since dipped down to -3.5. Monitor early and often, because BetQL has multiple sportsbooks — including Caesars — giving the Cardinals as much as 3.5 points. The Rams moneyline has moved from -210 earlier in the week to its current mark at -188. The over/under total, up past 51 just days ago, has crept down to 48.5. BetQL has sharp money favoring the Rams on the moneyline (57% money, 65% tickets), with the Cardinals dominating action ATS (95% money, 65% tickets). A stunning 94 percent of money so far has been wagered on the UNDER, likely why the total has moved down by a few points.
Cardinals vs. Rams all-time series
The Rams lead the Cardinals in the all-time series 47-39-2, but they have dominated the matchup over the past half-decade. Los Angeles has won 10 of its last 11 tilts with Arizona, dating back to October 2017. Across those 10 wins, L.A. averaged a whopping 31.5 points per game. Matthew Stafford and the Rams beat the Cardinals 34-11 in the opening-round of the 2021 NFL playoffs in January, but the Rams and Cards split their regular-season series last season. Including his many years with the Lions, Stafford is 4-5-1 lifetime against Arizona.
Three trends to know
— The Rams are 0-2 against the spread this season. Including the playoffs, they were 10-11 ATS in 2021.
— Thanks to an opening-week throbbing by the Chiefs, the Cardinals are 0-1 ATS at home this season. They were just 2-6 ATS at State Farm in 2021.
— Dating back to 2020, Murray and the Cardinals have a 14-5 record in the first-half of the season (73.6 winning %). Since joining the Rams last year, Stafford’s record in the first-half of the season is 8-3 (72.7%).
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Three things to watch for
Can Arizona contain Cooper Kupp the way it contained Davante Adams?
The biggest storyline in the Cardinals’ thrilling Week 2 win over the Raiders — besides, of course, the comeback — was Arizona’s ability to limit the damage caused by Raiders All-Pro receiver and prized offseason acquisition Davante Adams. The former Packer caught just 2-of-7 Derek Carr targets for 12 yards, his lowest yardage total since October 2017 (Adams’ career yards-per-catch average is 12.1, and his lifetime receptions-per-game average is just under six). The Cards, who rarely blitzed the Raiders and sent safety help toward Adams’ side of the field, will likely employ a similar strategy against 2021 Offensive Player of the Year Cooper Kupp.
Which squad will win in the trenches?
Arizona’s offensive line has been surprisingly good this season, allowing minimal pressure from a Vegas pass-rush that includes Maxx Crosby and former Cardinal Chandler Jones (Crosby had the Raiders’ sole sack). They will have an even stiffer test this week against the Rams, led by three-time Defensive Player of the Year and 7-time All-Pro Aaron Donald. On the other end, we will keep an eye on Arizona pass-rushers J.J. Watt, Dennis Gardeck, and Zach Allen. L.A.’s o-line was brutal in a Week 1 beat-down from former Ram Von Miller and the Bills, and it didn’t have as much to worry about last week with the visiting Falcons.
Which wide receivers besides Kupp will step up?
In Week 1, Stafford sure seemed to miss his long-lost receiving corps from the Rams’ Super Bowl season. Beyond Kupp, no wideout stepped up for the Rams, with offseason acquisition Allen Robinson II the most notable of the ghosts against Buffalo. Things got a little better last week, with tight end Tyler Higbee hauling in seven catches for 71 yards and Robinson emerging from shame-ville for four catches, 53 yards, and a score. Kingsbury and company will surely have a plan for Kupp, easily the most heavily-involved (and most effective) wide receiver in the NFL. As for Arizona’s receiving corps, which clearly misses DeAndre Hopkins, Marquise ‘Hollywood’ Brown should see plenty of All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey. Bobby Wager will also help out with Cardinal tight end Zach Ertz, likely leaving another game full of opportunities for mini-breakout receiver Greg Dortch.
Stat that matters
2-8. That’s Stafford’s record over the last 10 games in which he’s been sacked three or more times. Arizona averages a league-worst 0.5 sacks per game this season, but did average 2.3 sacks last season. If Watt plays more snaps in his second game back from injury, we could see the Rams’ o-line on their heels again. Pressure has been the main culprit in the Rams’ six turnovers over two games so far this season.
Cardinals vs. Rams prediction
The Rams are a shell of the team that won the Super Bowl seven months ago, missing key cogs in their offensive line, pass-rush, and receiving corps. Stafford doesn’t look quite right, perhaps still nursing his elbow injury. While I wouldn’t bet the Rams’ -188 moneyline — or Arizona’s +157, for that matter — I do find some value in the Cards’ +3.5 spread where it’s available. Murray always seems to get this team jiving early in the season, and Kingsbury’s guys are coming off a thrilling win over the Raiders. This is the perfect time for Arizona to pounce on its division-rivals, and the absolute worst time for the Rams to have to go into the desert.
PREDICTION: Rams 30, Cardinals 28. The Rams win but the Cardinals cover (+3.5) and the game easily goes OVER (48.5).
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