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Rams vs. Lions Odds, Early Leans & Picks: How to Bet Los Angeles vs. Detroit

Connor Cooper

Last Updated: September 3, 2024 5:39 AM EDT • 3 min 7 sec read.

Jared Goff celebrates during the Lions' wild-card playoff win over the Rams as we look at our Rams vs. Lions odds, early picks & leans.
Jared Goff celebrates during the Lions' wild-card playoff win over the Rams. Photo by: Eric Seals/USA TODAY Network.

The Los Angeles Rams don’t need to wait long for a chance to avenge last year’s playoff loss to the Detroit Lions. Our Rams vs. Lions odds, early leans & picks for the highly anticipated Week 1 showdown in the Motor City break down the season's first Sunday Night Football odds.

Detroit edged Los Angeles 24-23 in the NFC Wild Card Round for its first playoff win in 40 years, then nearly rode that momentum to its first Super Bowl appearance. The Lions are a popular pick in the Super Bowl odds again this season, while the Rams will face an uphill battle again.

Hopes are high again in Detroit, but I anticipate a big performance from Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles offense in the game with the highest total in the Week 1 odds.

Rams vs. Lions odds

See the NFL odds from our best NFL betting sites for every Week 1 game.

Moneyline

This looks like a cheap price to back a Lions team that has been favored by more than a field goal in seven of its last eight at Ford Field. However, it’s worth noting Detroit opened as a favorite of nearly -200 at most of our best sports betting sites, and we could see this line drop down a little bit more before kickoff.

Spread

If you want to catch more than a field goal with the Rams, oddsmakers are making you pay a small premium — at least for now, as all of our best sports betting apps have attached -115 juice or higher on LA +3.5.

Caesars is the most favorable book to back the Lions, offering Detroit -3.5 at even money.

Over/Under

Nearly 4% of NFL games have finished with exactly 51 points over the past nine years, so it’s critical to shop for the best number if you’re playing the total in this contest. Most of our best sportsbooks offered 51 at the time of writing, but Betway (50.5) and FanDuel (51.5) presented extra value on the Over and Under, respectively. 

My early Rams vs. Lions lean

NFL picks made Monday; odds subject to change.

Prediction: Over 50.5

Best odds: -115 via Betway | Implied probability: 53.5%

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The Lions’ offense has thrived on the fast track of Ford Field for years, clearing the 30-point plateau in 14 of their last 21 home games. Quarterback Jared Goff can be surgical when he’s not under pressure, and the Rams could struggle to generate a consistent pass rush in their first game since Aaron Donald’s retirement.

However, L.A. should be able to move the ball as well. Stafford threw for 367 yards and two TDs in last year’s playoff meeting, with star receiver Cooper Kupp contributing just 27 yards on five catches. Now that Kupp is healthy, I expect the Rams to be even more explosive through the air - especially after the emergence of Puka Nacua (181 receiving yards in the playoff clash) as a big-play threat on the other side of the field. 

These teams went Under the total in the 2023 playoffs, but that game featured 38 points at the half before the squads combined for just three field goals in the final 30 minutes. Both teams should play a lot looser in the 2024 season opener, something I’m sure the betting market will anticipate, as this line should only climb before Sunday night’s kickoff.

Don't miss our guide for how to bet on NFL or this week's best sportsbook promos.

How to watch Rams vs. Lions

  • When: Sunday, Sept. 8
  • Kickoff: 8:20 p.m. ET
  • Where: Ford Field, Detroit
  • How to watch: NBC
  • Weather: Indoors
  • Favorite: Lions (-175 via DraftKings)

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Written By:
Connor Cooper
Connor Cooper has written about sports in various capacities for more than 20 years, including as a newspaper reporter, sports handicapper, and betting analyst. He originates hockey plays every day throughout the NHL season, regularly bets his own opinions on NFL and college football, and relies on handicappers he trusts to find daily action in basketball, baseball, soccer, tennis, and golf. A diehard Maple Leafs and Blue Jays fan growing up in the Toronto area, Connor quickly shed all his allegiances once he realized that making money betting on sports was much more fun than cheering for his favorite team. Connor won’t hesitate to bet on — or against — anybody if that’s where the value lies. In addition to analyzing recent and season-long statistics, Connor always looks to account for the human element when breaking down games, weighing situational and motivational factors into his handicapping process. He's also a big believer in finding creative ways to generate more value, constantly scouring BetMGM, Caesar, FanDuel, and other regulated sportsbooks' derivative markets such as team totals, alternate lines, and player props.