Tonight at 8:20 PM on NBC, Thursday Night Football kicks off the 2022-23 NFL season with an epic matchup between the preseason Super Bowl favorite Buffalo Bills and last year’s Super Bowl Champions, the Los Angeles Rams.
18+ NFL sportsbook sites have posted betting lines for tonight’s game that favor the Bills to win on the road in SoFi Stadium by a field goal, with spreads that have held firm since their introduction.
Buffalo underachieved last season, losing to the Kansas City Chiefs in the second round of the NFL playoffs in dramatic fashion. However, the Bills are regular season warriors, whereas the same cannot be said for the LA Rams.
The Rams return this season with much of the same lineup that won a championship last year. Odell Beckham, Jr. is no longer with the team, but they’ve signed Allen Robinson to replace him in the lineup.
LA quarterback Matthew Stafford had off-season elbow surgery on his throwing arm. The recovery period kept him out of preseason action, but he has personally assured critics that he is 100% ready for tonight’s game, but doubt could have crept into the minds of NFL oddsmakers that have set the line in favor of the Bills.
Betting Line For The Buffalo Bills vs. The Los Angeles Rams
- Point Spread: Bills -2.5, Rams +2.5
- Moneyline: Bills -135 , Rams +115
- Over/Under: 52.0
Our staff is mixed in their beliefs regarding the above NFL point spread, but most are leaning toward the Rams covering.
The Bills feature a very similar look to last season, with the key offensive connection remaining Josh Allen and WR Stefon Diggs. That potent combination was responsible for 103 catches, 1,225 yards, and 10 touchdowns last season, and Buffalo will look to jump-start those numbers anew tonight.
Buffalo features a heavier dose of running, but that is largely due to Josh Allen’s added presence on the ground. Last year, Allen rushed for 763 yards and 6 touchdowns, and at 6’5″, 237 pounds, he keeps opposing defenses on their heels.
Both offenses feature a running back-by-committee approach, with the opportunity for any one of them to be given the lion’s share of the carries if they get hot.
There is a chance that this game will offer a glimpse into a potential Super Bowl 57 matchup. The Bills are the top team in the NFL futures odds to win the AFC, and the Rams are third overall in the NFC, depending on where you are doing your betting.
The Rams feature several major roadblocks in their path to a repeat championship. One is the presence of Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccanneers in the NFC. The Rams were able to beat the Bucs in the NFL Playoffs last year, but good luck accomplishing that two seasons in a row.
LA will also struggle to win the NFC West Division in 2022-23 as the San Francisco 49ers and Arizona Cardinals are top contenders in the National Football Conference.
The winner of the game will certainly improve their standings in the futures odds for betting on Super Bowl LVII, so savvy 18+ gamblers may want to explore the preseason futures and lay some action before tonight’s kickoff.
Source: Bleacher Report, Bovada