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In the second game on Saturday’s wild card slate, the No. 6 seed Los Angeles Rams will be heading back to the pacific northwest to take on the No. 3 seed Seattle Seahawks at 4:40 p.m. ET on FOX. These two teams split the season series, with the Seahawks winning the latest bout in Week 16.
The Rams (10-6) are coming into the playoffs off of a 18-7 victory over the Arizona Cardinals in the Week 17. Los Angeles entered the game down running back Darrell Henderson Jr. and starting quarterback Jared Goff. However, the Rams’ offense did not skip a beat with backup quarterback John Wolford under center. Wolford completed 22-of-38 passes for 231 yards and an interception. Rams head coach Sean McVay hasn’t made an announcement yet on who will be the starter quarterback.
As for the Seahawks (12-4), they wrapped up the regular season with a 26-23 victory over the San Francisco 49ers. Seattle has also won four-straight games, thanks to the play of quarterback Russell Wilson. Also, over that span of time, the Seahawks’ defense have produced five takeaways, which is what you want to see heading into the postseason.
So where are sports bettors going as we get closer to game time? Let’s take a look. All odds and info were provided by DraftKings Sportsbook.
Point Spread
Seattle is favored by three points heading into this NFC playoff game. The Seahawks are also receiving 64% of the bets and 56% of the handle.
Is the public right?
Yes, the public is right when it comes to the spread. As previously mentioned, the Seahawks are entering this game as one of the hottest teams in the NFL. Over their four-game winning streak, Seattle only has a record of 2-2 against the spread. That record might scare people off from the Seahawks, but I like what they have on offense more than the Rams at this point.
Over/Under
The point total for this playoff game is set at 42. As of now, 47% of the bets and 66% of the handle are siding with the under.
Is the public right?
If the two games in the regular season are any indicator of what we might see on Saturday, then taking the under may be the best play. In their Week 16 matchup, the Rams and Seahawks combined for 49 points. Then a few weeks prior in Week 10, the two teams combined for 39 points.
Additionally, here's another tidbit to keep in mind — the point total went under in 12 of Seattle’s last 18 games against the Rams. I think the defenses — which have playmakers littered all over — will make life hard for the offenses.
Moneyline
The Seahawks have moneyline odds of -167, with the Rams’ odds coming in at +145. Out of all the moneyline bets placed for this game, Seattle is seeing 25% of the bets and 19% of the handle.
Is the public right?
Yes, the public is right. This is going to be a close game, divisional game like we’ve saw in Week 17. But in the end, I trust Russell Wilson and the Seahawks’ offense to get the job done more than Rams. As previously mentioned, the Seahawks’ defense have forced five turnovers in their last four games.
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