The new season gets off to a strong start in the 2022 NFL Kickoff Game on Thursday, with the Los Angeles Rams hosting the Buffalo Bills at SoFi Stadium. The Rams are the reigning Super Bowl champions, while the Bills are the favorites for the 2023 Super Bowl. Caesars Sportsbook lists the Bills as the +600 favorites in their Super Bowl futures entering kickoff week, with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in second place at +750. Both teams have high-powered offenses, with Josh Allen leading the Bills and Matthew Stafford leading the Rams. Buffalo also had the best defense in the league in 2021, while Los Angeles’ passing rush led by Aaron Donald throws opponents into tantrums. The teams last met in 2020 in Buffalo, and the Bills scored on an Allen touchdown pass with 15 seconds left to earn a 35-32 victory.
Kickoff in Inglewood, California is scheduled for 8:20 pm ET. Caesars Sportsbook lists Buffalo as a 2.5-point favorite in its latest Bills vs. Rams, with a total of over/under points scored set at 53. Before choosing the Rams vs. Bills, be sure to check out the predictions from the NFL experts. and betting tips from SportsLine expert Mike Tierney.
A veteran sportswriter whose work appears regularly in the New York Times and Los Angeles Times, Mike Tierney has covered the NFL for decades and has reported on since seven Super Bowls. Over the past four seasons, Mike is 232-204 ATS on his NFL picks. He’s also 12-7-1 in his last 20 picks against the spread in Bills games, returning more than $400 to $100 to bettors.
Now, Tierney has focused on Bills vs. Rams in the 2022 NFL Kickoff Game and just revealed their picks and predictions from NFL experts. He can head over to SportsLine now to see his picks. Here are various NFL odds and betting trends for Rams vs. Bills:
- Spread Bills vs. Rams: Buffalo -2.5
- Bills vs. Rams over/under: 53 points
- Bills vs. Rams money line: Buffalo -135, Los Angeles +115
- Bills: Defense allowed 4.6 yards per play in 2021, only NFL team below 5.0
- Rams: QB Matthew Stafford averaged 8.1 yards per pass attempt, third-best in the NFL
- Bills picks vs. Rams: Check out the picks on SportsLine
featured game | Los Angeles Rams vs. Buffalo Bills
Why the Bills can cover
Buffalo is 4-1 against the spread in the last five meetings between these teams. He went 3-2 ATS as the favorite on the road last season, with all three wins by at least 25 points. The Bills are considered one of the most balanced teams in the league, having allowed only 278 total yards and 17 points per game last season, both ranking No. 1 in the league. The Rams ranked 17th in total yards (345) and 15th in points (22). Allen and wide receiver Stefon Diggs should be able to exploit a Rams secondary that finished 22nd by allowing 242 passing yards per game, and star cornerback Jalen Ramsey might not be at 100%.
Allen threw for 4,407 yards and 36 TDs last season and was sacked just 26 times, second-fewest in the league behind Tom Brady (22). That’s because he can also make plays with his legs, as he rushed for 763 yards, 25th-most in the NFL. When he throws, he often looks for big plays from Diggs, who had 103 catches for 1,225 yards and 10 TDs. Buffalo’s secondary is tough to break, and Stafford shared the NFL lead with 17 interceptions last season. The Bills are 13-6-2 against the spread in non-conference games under Sean McDermott.
Why the Rams can cover
Los Angeles is 5-0 ATS in its five Week 1 games, winning each one outright, since Sean McVay became coach in 2017. The passing offense is undoubtedly one of the most dangerous in the NFL. and the team is looking for great things. Cam Akers after getting hurt in Week 1 last year. Stafford threw for 4,886 yards last season, and his 41 TD passes ranked second in the NFL. Cooper Kupp was a big part of the success, scoring 16 of those TDs in his stellar season. His 145 receptions and 1,947 yards are second-most in NFL history.
Akers rushed for 625 yards as a rookie draft pick in the second round and showed off a big bang by posting 248 total yards in four postseason games. Darrell Henderson (4.6 yards per carry in 2021) can carry the load if needed. Aaron Donald is the lynchpin of the Rams’ defense and he sacked Allen twice in the 2020 meeting. The three-time Defensive Player of the Year led a unit that was third in the NFL with 50 sacks, as he had 12.5 and forced four fumbles. The Rams had 25 points in 2021.
How to make Rams vs. Bills
Tierney has taken a deep dive into the Bills vs. Rams, leaning toward Under on the total. He also says that there is a critical X factor that makes one side of the spread a must. He’s sharing who he is, and which side to back, only on SportsLine.
Who wins Rams vs. Bills in the 2022 NFL pitch game? And what critical X factor makes a side a must? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Rams vs. The Bills should be in the NFL kickoff matchup, all from the expert who is 12-7 in distribution picks involving the Bills..
