The top-seeded Green Bay Packers will kick off the Divisional Round against the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday. It’s time to continue our NFL odds series and make a Rams-Packers Divisional playoff prediction and pick.
This game will come down to how the Green Bay offense, led by MVP candidate and future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers, plays against the Los Angeles defense, arguably the best defense in the NFL.
The weather forecast projects that this game has the potential to be a snow game, as temperatures will be hovering around freezing before kickoff.
Here’s how sportsbooks have set the opening Rams-Packers Divisional Round odds.
NFL Odds: Rams-Packers Divisional Playoff Odds
Packers -6.5 (-110)
Rams +6.5 (-110)
Over 45.5 points (-110)
Under 45.5 points (-110)
Why the Packers can cover the spread
The main reason the Packers earned the No. 1 seed in the NFC is the duo of Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams is lethal, even against the best defenses.
Despite playing in only 14 games this season, Adams still posted a franchise-record 115 catches, resulting in 1,374 yards and 18 touchdowns.
Adams isn't the only Packers weapon that could give the Rams fits, as third-year tight end Robert Tonyan likely swung a lot of fantasy seasons by posting 52 catches for 586 yards and 11 touchdowns. Furthermore, running back Aaron Jones racked up 1,104 yards on the ground and scored nine touchdowns while averaging 5.5 yards per carry.
Even if All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey can slow Adams down, the Packers can still rack up a lot of points thanks to their versatile attack.
While Rodgers has proven to still be great under duress over the years, he might not have to worry about that as much on Saturday, thanks to Aaron Donald being limited this week with a rib injury.
More points equals a better chance of covering the spread, and when you combine that with the Packers being much more comfortable playing at Lambeau in the cold, it's hard to pick against the Packers to cover in this matchup.
Why the Rams can cover the spread
This is far from the first time this season the Rams have had their backs against the wall, and they've come up big in recent weeks.
For as good as the Packers are, their run defense is pretty average, ranking 13th in both rushing yards allowed and rushing yards allowed per game in 2020.
The Packers have been gashed by running backs a few times this season, including a 163-yard, three-touchdown performance from Dalvin Cook that led to a loss to kick off November.
While Rams rookie running back Cam Akers hasn't been as dominant as Cook this season, he has shown flashes of greatness this season, including a 29-carry, 171-yard day in a win against the New England Patriots a month ago.
With Jared Goff not being 100 percent due to a thumb injury, the Rams may have to rely on Akers to carry the load on a snowy Saturday in Lambeau.
If the Rams can grind out first downs, control the clock, and keep Rodgers off the field, they have a chance to not only cover the spread but upset the Packers on the road and win outright.
Rams-Packers Divisional Playoff Prediction and Pick
The Rams are a bit banged up heading into this game, which isn't ideal going up against the favorite in the NFC.
Jalen Ramsey is one of the best cornerbacks in football and could limit Davante Adams, but the Packers' offense is far from a one-trick pony. Even if the Rams were healthy, warm weather teams have typically not fared well in snow games, which is where the Packers thrive.
Betting against a rested Rodgers at home has been a bad decision for many, as Rodgers is 61-35-4 against the spread at Lambeau Field and 10-5-1 against the spread with 12-15 days to rest and prepare.
A rested Rodgers at home, combined with the Rams possibly not having key contributors at 100% health, makes betting on the Packers to cover the spread an easy decision.
Final Score Prediction: Packers 27, Rams 10