LA Rams (3-1) at Seattle (3-1)
When: Thursday, October 3rd, 2019
Where: CenturyLink Field,
Seattle, Washington
Time: 8:20 ET | TV: FOX
Opening Odds: Los Angeles -2/47.5
The NFC West is starting to look like it will be one of the better division races all season long with anyone of three teams having a chance to seize control. Two of those teams will kickoff Week 5 action as the Seattle Seahawks host the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday Night Football from CenturyLink Field. Both teams are sitting at 3-1 and are a half-game behind 3-0 San Francisco, while Arizona brings up the rear in the NFC West race. The Rams were favored heavily last Sunday to improve to 4-0, but were shocked 55-40 at home to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, ruining a lot of people’s survivor pools – including mine. Seattle had no trouble on the road with a 27-10 triumph over the Cardinals and the Seahawks love playing on Thursday’s. Over their last nine Thursday contests, the Seahawks are 7-0-2 against the spread and come into this contest as slight 1.5-point favorites at most offshore books as of Tuesday afternoon. The total for this game is up to 49 after opening at 47. The Rams swept the Seahawks last year but both games could have gone either way as they were decided by a combined seven points. L.A. was favored by 7.5 in the contest at Seattle and escaped with a 33-31 win after coach Sean McVay took a risk on fourth-and-1 at his own 42 with under two minutes left. Jared Goff ran a quarterback sneak and got two yards, allowing the Rams to run out the clock. Seattle covered as 10-point dogs in a 36-31 setback a month later at the Coliseum. The underdog has covered in six of the past eight meetings and the under is 6-2 in that span.
The 55 points Los Angeles allowed to the Bucs was the most allowed in a home game in franchise history including their time in St. Louis. Quarterback Jared Goff had a monster day yardage-wise, passing for 517, but was also picked-off three times and lost a fumble that was returned for a touchdown. It was his second straight game with multiple interceptions. The Rams have not gotten off to very good starts in games this season, having yet to score a first-quarter touchdown. Todd Gurley continues to be underutilized and had only five carries last Sunday for just 16 yards but did score twice on the ground. L.A. is just 1-5 ATS in its past six Thursday games.
The Seahawks played an all-around solid game on Sunday after looking lost the week prior against New Orleans. Russell Wilson passed for 240 yards and a touchdown pass to tight end Will Dissly, who scored for the third straight game. Chris Carson rumbled for 104 yards while adding another 41 in receiving as the Seahawks improved to 2-0 on the road. Fellow running back Rashaad Penny missed a second game in a row due to a hamstring injury but is likely to play Thursday. Recent acquisition Jadeveon Clowney returned an interception for a touchdown for a Seattle defense that ranks eighth overall in yards allowed per game (319.0). The Seahawks will be at Cleveland next week.
Overall, I think the Rams are a better team, but the Seahawks love prime time games at home and you don’t have to lay a lot of points here. The Seahawks are 7-0-2 ATS in their last nine Thursday affairs. Goff is making too many mistakes lately to have confidence in him in a hostile environment.
Pick: Seahawks -1.5 (More Week 5 Free Picks)
Rams are 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 games after scoring more than 30 points in their previous game.
Rams are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 road games.
Rams are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games after allowing more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
Rams are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 vs. NFC.
Rams are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games overall.
Rams are 9-3-1 ATS in their last 13 games following a double-digit loss at home.
Rams are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games after accumulating less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game.
Rams are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 vs. NFC West.
Rams are 31-64-1 ATS in their last 96 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Rams are 3-7-1 ATS in their last 11 games after accumulating more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
Rams are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games after accumulating more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
Rams are 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS loss.
Rams are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 Thursday games.
Rams are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games in Week 5.
Seahawks are 7-0-2 ATS in their last 9 Thursday games.
Seahawks are 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 games in Week 5.
Seahawks are 4-0 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
Seahawks are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games in October.
Seahawks are 8-3-1 ATS in their last 12 vs. NFC.
Seahawks are 11-5-1 ATS in their last 17 games overall.
Seahawks are 3-7-1 ATS in their last 11 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Seahawks are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games after allowing less than 15 points in their previous game.
Under is 4-0 in Rams last 4 games after allowing less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game.
Under is 5-1 in Rams last 6 road games.
Under is 4-1 in Rams last 5 games after allowing more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
Under is 4-1 in Rams last 5 games in October.
Over is 4-1 in Rams last 5 games following a ATS loss.
Over is 4-1 in Rams last 5 games after scoring more than 30 points in their previous game.
Under is 4-1 in Rams last 5 games after accumulating more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
Under is 4-1 in Rams last 5 vs. a team with a winning record.
Over is 14-5 in Rams last 19 games in Week 5.
Under is 7-3 in Rams last 10 games following a double-digit loss at home.
Over is 7-3 in Rams last 10 games after allowing more than 30 points in their previous game.
Over is 4-0 in Seahawks last 4 vs. a team with a winning record.
Over is 5-1 in Seahawks last 6 games following a straight up win.
Over is 5-1 in Seahawks last 6 vs. NFC West.
Over is 5-1 in Seahawks last 6 games following a ATS win.
Under is 4-1 in Seahawks last 5 Thursday games.
Over is 4-1 in Seahawks last 5 games on fieldturf.
Over is 8-2 in Seahawks last 10 vs. NFC.
Over is 8-2 in Seahawks last 10 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Over is 10-3 in Seahawks last 13 games overall.
Over is 5-2 in Seahawks last 7 home games.
Underdog is 6-2 ATS in their last 8 meetings.
Under is 5-2 in the last 7 meetings in Seattle.
Rams are 3-9 ATS in their last 12 meetings in Seattle.
Rams are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 meetings.
