Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks are facing their largest point spread in three seasons as they take on the beleaguered Los Angeles Rams. Odds courtesy of OddsShark.com
With the Rams installing Jim Fassel as interim coach after finally axing Jeff Fisher, the Seahawks are now listed as a 16-point favorite against Los Angeles with 39-point total in the Thursday Night Football matchup.
Since the start of Wilson’s career, the Seahawks are 17-1 straight-up and 10-7-1 against the spread when favored by at least 10 points.
Los Angeles, which is 4-9 SU and 4-8-1 ATS, has been a 16-point underdog only twice in the last 20 seasons. For what it is worth, the Rams did not cover either time. The Rams are dead last in points and yards per game and have had difficulty springing RB Todd Gurley into the open field. Seattle MLB Bobby Wagner is also one of the best run defenders in the league, so another long night for Gurley apparently beckons.
The Rams are 7-2 ATS in their last nine games against the Seahawks, but one overarching trend is that they are 0-7 SU and 0-6-1 ATS in their last seven games as the underdog. Rookie QB Jared Goff has struggled, but WR Tavon Austin in particular could exploit a Seahawks defense that has some vulnerable spots, particularly CB DeShawn Shead’s pedestrian speed and FS Steven Terrell’s inexperience.
Essentially, the point spread creates the question of whether the Seahawks, who are 8-4-1 SU and 6-6-1 ATS, will deliver a statement game after their embarrassing 38-10 road defeat in Green Bay during Week 14. Wilson had his worst game as a Seahawk, but on the whole Seattle is 6-0 SU and 5-0-1 ATS in their last six outings after losing as a favorite.
The Rams defense allows only 6.6 yards per pass but has only six interceptions and 24 sacks, so there might be an opportunity for Wilson to re-establish his rhythm with WR Doug Baldwin and TE Jimmy Graham. Facing DT Aaron Donald and DE Robert Quinn, who are perhaps the NFL’s best at stuffing the run, will also be a truer test of whether RB Thomas Rawls (173 yards in the past two games) is the solution to Seattle’s issues in the rushing phase. Beyond its defensive front four, Los Angeles struggles against the run.
The total has gone under in 18 of the Rams’ last 25 games. The total has gone under in seven of the Rams’ last nine games against the Seahawks. The total has gone over in five of the Seahawks’ last seven games with a closing total of 39.5 or less.
