Like LL Cool J, the Rams have gone back to Cali, specifically Los Angeles, which is a stone’s throw away from San Francisco, where they will visit the 49ers at Levi’s Stadium on Monday, September 12th. Here are the odds for the people who bet on NFL:
Rams -3 (EV) 44½ (-110)
49ers +3 (-120) 44½ (-110)
The Rams will most likely be starting Case Keenum under center, while the wet-eared No. 1 pick Jared Goff has been pushed down the depth chart – which is perfectly normal; few rookie QBs hit the ground rolling, though Goff might need a bit more work than thought at first. Rams fans who bet on NFL are crossing their fingers that Goff’s selection will not backfire on the team.
Not only did the Rams traded their 15th overall pick, two second-round picks, and a third-round pick in the 2016 draft, and first and third-round picks in 2017 to the Titans in exchange for the first pick, but they also caused Nick Foles to request – and be granted – his release from the team. Foles threw 190 of 337 (56.4%) for 2052 yards and & TDs in 11 regular season games with the Rams in 2015.
Meanwhile, Keenum completed 76 of 125 passes (60.8%) for 828 yards and 4 touchdowns last season. hindsight always being 20/20, Foles would certainly have been the starting QB had he stayed with the Rams, instead of being Alex Smith’s backup in the Chiefs, but what’s done is done. So, the QB situation in LA is kind of in limbo, but at the very least the Rams have the 2015 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Todd Gurley.
The running back rushed 1106 yards in 229 carries for 10 TDs in 2015. And the receiving corps is adequate with Tavon Austin and Kenny Britt. Austin posted 15 receptions for 473 yards and 5 touchdowns, and rushed 434 yards in 52 carries for a further four TDs. Britt had 36 catches for 681 receiving yards and 3 TDs.
The QB situation in San Francisco is a lot more ambiguous. And the end of the day, however, Colin Kaepernick and Blaine Gabbert might as well be interchangeable, given the Niners’ offensive shortcomings. Running back Carlos ‘Jekyll and’ Hyde – who rushed 470 yards in 115 carries for 3 TDs in seven games in 2015 – is out with a concussion and is questionable. Moreover, wide receiver Torrey Smith, one of the few standouts on offense, only had 33 receptions last season. Similarly on defense, where there was little Aaron Lynch or NaVorro Bowman could do to keep San Francisco from ranking 30th in total yards allowed and 19th in scoring defense last year.
One thing Niners fans who bet on NFL at a football betting website can agree on is that this team just can’t do worse – well, it can, but they would have to sink to a new nadir in order to reach such lows – and has pretty much nothing to lose. In fact, it’s a clean slate with new head coach Chip Kelly.