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Rams vs. Lions Prediction for Sunday Night Football: SNF Odds & Picks Tonight

Mike Spector

Last Updated: September 8, 2024 6:05 PM EDT • 3 min read.

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp (10) against Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph (31) as we offer our Rams vs. Lions prediction for Sunday Night Football.
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp (10) against Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph (31). Photo by Lon Horwedel / Imagn Images.

After their epic wild-card clash last year, the Los Angeles Rams and Detroit Lions meet again tonight at 8:20 p.m. ET for the first Sunday Night Football matchup of the 2024 NFL season.

The Lions are favored by 4.5 points by the latest Sunday Night Football odds, in part because of the injury concerns for the visiting Rams.

While this game features one of the most compelling quarterback matchups of our Week 1 NFL predictions, we have our eyes on the run game and a star receiver in tonight's primetime contest as we offer our Rams vs. Lions prediction and player prop.

Best Rams vs. Lions picks tonight

NFL picks based on the odds from our best NFL betting sites. Odds subject to change.

Rams vs. Lions spread prediction: Sunday Night Football

Rams to cover the spread: + 4.5 (-110) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rams run game is elite

There are few better ways to dominate time of possession in a road environment and take the crowd out of a game than by having a strong running game.

Los Angeles is equipped to do that with Kyren Williams, who ranked first among running backs last season in touches per game (21.7) and rushing yards per game (95.3), second in scrimmage yards per game (112.5), second in fantasy points per game (21.3) and third in scrimmage touchdowns (15).

Stafford can succeed through the air

Stafford’s 75 QBR last season when not pressured ranked eighth, but that dropped to 17th when he was pressured. That was the fifth-largest decline among all qualified quarterbacks in the NFL.

Detroit’s pass rush and secondary is beatable, as its pass defense allowed the most 20-yard plays (69), allowed the second-most yards per attempt (7.8), and ranked 27th in passing touchdowns allowed (28) last season.

After holding firm at +3.5 for most of the week, late money has driven the line up a point, but I will take that extra value and prefer to remain on the contrarian side with this play. 

A winning $10 wager would pay out $19.09.

Best odds: -110 via BetMGM | Implied probability: 52.38%

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Rams vs. Lions player prop

Cooper Kupp anytime touchdown scorer (+140) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Most of our best sports betting sites offer nearly the same odds for wideouts Kupp and Puka Nacua to score a touchdown, and while many bettors will be swayed Nacua’s way after last year’s breakout season, I am siding with the veteran.

Nacua and Kupp played 12 full games together last season. While Nacua had 302 more yards, he had just three more receptions, one more target, and one fewer touchdown than Kupp (four compared to Kupp’s five).

The Rams ran the ball 477 times last season, the most in any season under head coach Sean McVay. However, Stafford threw for 367 yards in the playoff meeting, and I expect a similar offensive game plan in this rematch.

There is a big discrepancy between BetMGM’s +140 odds and those sportsbooks on the other end of the market, like FanDuel's +120 price for Kupp to score a touchdown.

Thus, I am making this $10 wager at BetMGM and will enjoy the $2 extra in profits ($14 compared to $12) if Kupp finds paydirt.

Rodrigo Villagomez is also backing Kupp and his teammate Puka Nacua in his Rams vs. Lions player props.

Best odds: +140 via BetMGM | Implied probability: 41.67%

Rams vs. Lions odds

See all of this week's NFL odds and NFL scores.

Sunday Night Football game info

  • Matchup: Rams vs. Lions
  • Kickoff: 8:20 p.m. ET
  • Where: Ford Field (Detroit)
  • How to watch: NBC/Peacock
  • Weather: Indoors
  • Favorite: Lions (-225 via BetMGM)

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Written By:
Mike Spector
Mike started in the sports writing industry in July 2019, and gained a lot of followers in his first year after finishing with the No. 2 overall record in an annual NFL betting competition, which made picks against the spread, and from an Over/Under and moneyline perspective. Mike is an avid fan of the NFL, MLB, tennis, and all college sports. In his opinion, March Madness is the best sporting event there is, and he's especially euphoric starting with conference tournament time in college basketball. Mike's a big advocate of "fading the public" and making plays that are contrarian, constantly citing that "there are reasons why they have those big shiny buildings in Las Vegas." When making wagers, Mike always scours the best odds at all of the major sports betting sites, where he mostly sifts through DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, and bet365. He's tried several others and is of the firm belief that bettors should not just stick to one sportsbook, as there is always likely better value to be had with the same wager. In addition, while Mike received his undergraduate degree from Villanova University, he has no issue betting against the Wildcats when it comes to college basketball wagering, and suggests other bettors should always put their “head” before their “hearts.”