Buffalo Bills (2-2 SU, 2-2 ATS) vs. Los Angeles Rams (3-1 SU, 3-1 ATS)
NFL Week 5
Date/Time: Sunday, October 9, 2016 4:25 PM EDT
Where: L.A. Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California
TV: FOX
by Keith, Expert Football Handicapper, Predictem.com
Point Spread: BUF +2.5/STL -2.5
Over/Under Total: 40
On the Week Five schedule, yet another cross-conference clash between the AFCs Buffalo Bills and the NFCs Los Angeles Rams at the L. A. Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California with a 4:25 PM scheduled kick-off. The game is set to be aired on FOX with regional coverage. The Bills enter off an impressive 16-0 shutout victory in New England, improving to a record of 2-2. As for the Rams, they enter in off a win against Arizona on the road by a score of 17-13. The Rams have won three in a row after losing their opening game to San Francisco. The Rams own wins over Seattle and Tampa Bay as well. Buffalo also owns a victory over Arizona in Buffalo, two weeks ago.
Two weeks ago, the Buffalo Bills look destined on a course to mediocrity after they got off to an 0-2 start and their offense looked anemic. The Bills couldnt find the end zone in Week One against Baltimore as the Ravens had their way with the Bills and dominated them at M&T Bank Field. The Bills would follow this up with a hideous loss against the New York Jets. The Jets should have blown out the Bills but the Jets theatrics kept the Bills around and gave them a chance to win when they were statistically overpowered. Since those moments, the Bills have continued on to win two big games against some of the NFLs most prolific teams: the Arizona Cardinals and the New England Patriots. The Bills have improved to a record of 2-2, also covering in their last two as underdogs as well.
The Los Angeles Rams were discerned by many to be a dark horse for the playoffs in 2016. The emergence of Todd Gurley has been the prime mover for the Rams and has catalyzed their offense. Gurley came to the NFL by way of the University of Georgia. The powerful back put together an eyebrow-raising rookie season with the Rams as he eclipsed 1,000 yards and earned a ticket to Hawaii as a Pro Bowler. Gurley was in the running for Rookie of the Year and he has followed up those accolades marvelously in 2016, hitting the ground running in his usual dominant ways. To complement Gurley, the Rams drafted quarterback Jared Goff from California to foster a more balanced attack. Needless to say it has been the Rams defense which has catapulted them to three straight wins after looking abysmal against San Francisco to start off the 2016 season where they were shutout 28-0.
This situation is a bit of a quandary. The stock in both teams is through the ceiling. As we have highlighted previously, the Rams have won three in a row and this streak was yielded against the cream of the NFC West crop. Los Angeles looks like the hot team but Buffalos shutout of New England at home is historic and more likely to generate an overreaction in hindsight. Nevertheless, this has not actually been the case. The consensus remains divided more or less and thus this game seems to be a virtual toss-up. Buffalo has rattled off two wins in their own right and their stock is also through the ceiling. This game is a toss-up and the book has it right favoring the home team by the default three points. However, when we see point spreads of this nature they are designed often to lure action on the pooch, not the favorite. The dog looks more appealing as a field goal gets a win. Given the home field advantage combined with jet lag, the Bills are the more vulnerable party. We will lay the more impressive result of the two and stay clear of the potential overreaction on Buffalo and take the Rams against the spread.
From Over/Under market perspective, there is no saucy play as this game can go in any direction. Given the fact, both these teams are defense oriented do not be surprised if these two teams win games by virtue of field goals. Therefore the Under is the more seasonable play.
KEITHs Pick to Cover the Point Spread: LOS ANGELES -2.5
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