Rams vs. Ravens Week 17 Picks: Take the Rams to Cover

The Rams will aim to extend their winning streak to five games when they take on the struggling Ravens in Baltimore. Can they cover the spread? Read on for our Rams-Ravens picks.

These teams are heading in opposite directions. The Rams have surged to the top of the NFC West, one win clear of the Cardinals, after an impressive four-game winning streak. Meanwhile, the Ravens have lost four straight while severely damaging their playoff chances.

The Rams need to keep winning to stay atop their division, and they also could get the No. 1 seed in the NFC. The Ravens are now sitting just outside of a wild-card spot at No. 8 in the AFC, and they desperately need to halt their slide. Baltimore is 7-8 against the spread this year, while the Rams are 8-7.

Here are my Rams-Ravens picks and predictions for the NFL's Week 17 matchup (Odds via BetMGM, and pick confidence is based on a one-to-five star scale).

Rams vs. Ravens Game Info

Date/Time: Sunday, January 2, at 1 p.m. ETTV: FOXLocation: M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, MDWeather: 61 degrees and cloudy with a 30% chance of precipitation and 17-mph winds

Rams vs. Ravens Odds Analysis

The Rams opened as a 3.5-point favorite, and the line hasn't moved since then. The sportsbooks are consistent on this game, with almost every book offering -110 on the Rams at -3.5 and -110 on the Ravens at +3.5. FanDuel is the exception, which is listing -110 odds on either side of a four-point spread, making it the best option if you like the Ravens to cover.

The total is set at 46.5. BetMGM, Caesars, FOX Bet, and PointsBet are all offering -110 on the Over. DraftKings stands out with a market-leading -105 on the Under. BetMGM lists the Rams at -185 on the moneyline, while FanDuel is offering a market-leading +168 on the Ravens to win outright.

Rams vs. Ravens Picks

Rams -3.5 (-110) ????Over 46.5 Points (-110) ??

SEE ALSO: Week 17 Odds, Lines, and Picks

Rams vs. Ravens Predictions

Rams -3.5 (-110)

Everything in this game hinges on the availability of Ravens QB Lamar Jackson for our Rams-Ravens picks. Baltimore was on fire before he suffered an injury in the second quarter of a Week 14 loss to the Browns. He limped around throughout Wednesday's practice and wasn't seen during the portion open to the media on Thursday.

The Ravens have suffered tough defeats since Jackson went down, losing 31-30 to the Packers and 41-21 to the Bengals last weekend. His availability will impact the point spread and the Over/Under, so going with the Rams to cover is the sensible play right now. If Jackson is out, the line will move heavily in Los Angeles' favor.

Yet Jackson won't be close to fully healthy even if he plays. His game requires mobility, and he won't be able to work his normal magic. The Rams should cover a 3.5-point spread regardless of who's under center for Baltimore.

Over 46.5 (-110)

The Ravens still put up 30 points against the Packers and 21 against Cincinnati in Jackson’s absence. They should cause some problems for a Rams defense that allows 21.7 points per game.

Yet the Rams should be able to outgun Baltimore. They've been very impressive over the past four weeks while sweeping aside the Jaguars, Cardinals, Seahawks, and Vikings and averaging 29.3 points over those contests.

Two-thirds of the Rams’ games this season have gone over 46.5 points. These two teams combine to average 51.4 points and surrender 45.4. This matchup could be tight, but the Over is the more appealing play for our Rams-Ravens picks.

SEE ALSO: All picks and odds. Be sure to check out SportsbookReview.com’s community forums and betting tools.

Rams-Ravens picks made on 12/30/2021 at 8:45 a.m. ET.