Buffalo Bills @ Los Angeles Rams: Opening Night Betting Predictions
It’s been almost seven months since the Los Angeles Rams claimed the Lombardi Trophy on their home turf at Super Bowl LVI, making them the second team in two years to do so in front of their fans.
On the other hand, members of the Buffalo Bills will be looking to make amends after failing short in last season’s playoffs. They must be feeling confident in the number 13 not being as unlucky as it’s made out to be with WR Gabriel Davis snagging four touchdowns in the Divisional Round against the Kansas City Chiefs.
But those are last year’s storylines. We have a fresh batch of questions leading into this Week One battle with the Rams’ 5th ranked passing offense taking on the Bills’ 1st ranked passing defense.
How will Stafford’s elbow hold up over the season? Does he still have that lion in him after capturing his first ring? Will LA be the first team to repeat since the 2003-04 New England Patriots? What will Josh Allen and the Bills’ offense look like under new OC Ken Dorsey? Can Buffalo get over that hump?
This is the first time since 2003 that the reigning Super Bowl champions are underdogs in their Week One matchup. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers started their season on the road that year going up against the Eagles.
They would cover the +3 spread and shut Philly out 17-0. The Rams were only a home underdog once last season vs. who else but the Bucs, covering the +1 spread by a score of 34-24. The Bills were a road favorite five times last season going 3-2 against the spread.
Which of these teams is going to make an early statement and set the tone early on that the 2022-23 season is theirs to lose?
Trends on the Rams side of the ball
- 8-2 in previous 10 home openers
- Defending champions are 7-3 in home opener the previous 10 seasons
- They’ve scored an average of 33 points over the past three seasons, winning by an average margin of 15 pts
- Scored first in 7 of 8 home games last season
- Matthew Stafford has thrown for an average of 316 passing yards and 3 TDs in Week 1 matchups over his last 5 seasons (between Lions and Rams)
- Cooper Kupp has caught a TD in 3 of his 5 career Week 1 games
- He caught 14 TDs in 11 home games last season (including Playoffs & Super Bowl), scoring at least 1 TD in 9 of 11 games
- Bills are 5-5 in previous 10 Weeks 1 matchups
Trends on Bills side of the ball
- Scored first in 5 of 8 road games last season
- Josh Allen averaged 295 passing yards and 2 TDs on the road last season
- Allen has a rushing TD in 2 of his last 3 Week 1 games, rushing for an average of 46 yards
- Los Angeles allowed 4 rushing touchdowns to quarterbacks last season
- Stefon Diggs is averaging 8.5 receptions and 77.5 yards with 0 TDs in Week 1 games as a Bill
- 8-1 on the road in previous three seasons on turf fields
- Stafford is 0-2 in his career vs. Buffalo (both games as a Lion)
- Has thrown at least 1 INT in each of previous three Week 1 games
50/50 Bills Bets
- Diggs catches his first Week 1 TD as a Bill
- Allen rushes for over 25 yards with 1 TD
- Stafford throws a pick before Allen
- Bills cover the -2.5 point spread (-110)
Runnin’ with the Rams Bets
- Stafford throws for over 250+ passing yards with 2 TDs
- Kupp catches 1 TD
- Van Jefferson catches first TD of game
