Sunday Night Football features a clash between the Los Angeles Rams (1-1) and Denver Broncos (1-1), a pair of teams that started the season with a letdown in Week 1 before bouncing back in Week 2. It's a primetime matchup at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colo., with kickoff set for 8:20 p.m. ET (NBC). Let's analyze NFL odds around the Rams vs. Broncos odds
and make our expert NFL picks and predictions for the best bets.The Rams bounced back from their Week 1 loss by blowing out the New York Giants last Monday night, 28-6. They didn't allow a single touchdown after giving up 27 points to the San Francisco 49ers in the opener, shutting down the Jaxson Dart-less Giants at SoFi Stadium. Despite being without WR Puka Nacua, QB Matthew Stafford
still threw for 327 yards and 4 touchdowns, with 195 of those yards and 2 touchdowns going to WR Davante Adams. On the ground, RBs Kyren Williams and Blake Corum combined for 164 yards rushing on only 24 total carries.
The Broncos faced a tough test at home against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 2 after losing their season opener to the Chiefs, and they passed with a 20-13 win at home. WR Jaylen Waddle came alive with 138 yards on eight receptions, his first game at Mile High as a member of the Broncos. Denver's stout defense limited QB Trevor Lawrence to only 189 yards passing, intercepting him once.
This is the first meeting between the Rams and Broncos since Christmas night in 2022, a game Los Angeles won 51-14 with QB Baker Mayfield behind center. The Rams have won 5 in a row against Denver entering this week.
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Rams at Broncos odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Saturday at 8:15 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Rams -135 (bet $135 to win $100) | Broncos +110 (bet $100 to win $110)
- Against the spread (ATS): Rams -2 (-110) | Broncos +2 (-108)
- Over/Under (O/U): 44 (O: -108 | U: -110)
Rams at Broncos key injuries
Rams
- S Kamren Kinchens (quad) doubtful
- WR Puka Nacua (hip) doubtful
- TE Colby Parkinson (knee) questionable
Broncos
- RB Jonah Coleman (ankle) out
- WR Marvin Mims Jr. (foot) questionable
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Rams at Broncos nickname picks and predictions
Prediction
Rams 20, Broncos 17
Moneyline
There are still many questions about both of these teams after they looked so poor in Week 1 but significantly better last week. The Rams beat up on an injured Giants squad, whereas Denver's win was much more impressive over Jacksonville.
The Rams' win over the Giants shouldn't be written off because of Dart's injury, though. They dominated that game from start to finish, whether it was on offense or defense. With Nacua likely out again, the Rams should lean on the rushing attack and tight ends, especially with CB Pat Surtain II likely to shadow Adams.
For the Rams, DT Aaron Donald makes up for the loss of injured DE Myles Garrett, and CB Trent McDuffie is playing like the best cornerback in football. Even on the road, it makes sense that the Rams are favored.
BET RAMS -135 to win outright.
Against the spread
This should be a close game, and with the spread only sitting at Rams -2, there isn't much reason to bet that at -110 instead of just taking the Rams ML at -135. PASS on the spread and take the moneyline instead.
Over/Under
These are 2 of the best defenses in football, and as talented as each offense is, this could be a defensive battle. The Rams want to run the ball and be physical up front with their tight ends, while the Broncos could be forced to lean on QB Bo Nix with their running backs banged up.
Neither team should turn the ball over very much, despite going up against quality defenses. So short fields could be tough to come by. That'll force each offense to drive the length of the field to put up points.
With the Rams trying to shorten the game with their rushing attack, scoring could be limited. BET UNDER 44 (-108).
Best prop bet
Rams TE Terrance Ferguson OVER 3.5 RECEPTIONS (-165, DraftKings)
The Rams fed Ferguson often with Nacua out last week, as the second-year tight end caught 6 of 9 targets 54 yards and a score. With Nacua still ailing and Adams getting the attention of Surtain, Ferguson should see plenty of opportunities in the slot, especially with how often the Rams are in 3-tight end sets.
Betting odds calculator
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This article originally appeared on Sportsbook Wire: LA Rams at Denver Broncos odds, picks and predictions
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