The first Sunday Night Football game of the new NFL season is an incredible one, as it’s a rematch of last year's Wild Card Round between the Los Angeles Rams and Detroit Lions. It was an epic one-point game that catapulted the Lions to the NFC Championship Game. Will the Rams get their revenge?

We’re here to help answer that question with our best Rams vs. Lions predictions for SNF, and not only that, we’ll also be sharing how you can lock in your Rams vs. Lions picks with a generous $1,500 BetMGM Sportsbook sign up offer.

 

 

 

Rams vs. Lions Predictions for NFL Week 1, Sunday, 9/8

As mentioned, this is a playoff matchup from just last season, which is surprising in itself. The Rams were expected to take quite a bit of a decline after their recent Super Bowl victory, while the Lions have long been penciled in to miss the postseason.

Of course, Detroit is a far cry from those days at this point, and there is more faith in Los Angeles than last year as well. As far as the betting markets are concerned, the lines are nearly identical to last year’s game. Given that we saw a one-point victory for the home team, we wouldn’t be surprised if that’s how Rams vs. Lions predictions played out again this time around.

Our best bet is going to be focused on the total for this Sunday Night Football game, but first, let’s dive deeper into each squad.

 

 

 

Los Angeles Rams: Dealing With The Lack Of Donald

Starting with the Rams, they had one of the biggest storylines of the early offseason, and not in a way that made them stronger. It feels like forever ago now that the season is upon us, but 10-year pass rusher Aaron Donald called in a career.

It may not have been the longest tenure, but with three Defensive Player of the Year awards under his belt, it was certainly a successful one. That is undoubtedly a blow to their defense, but with guys like rookie WR Puka Nacua bursting onto the scene, the offense seems as strong as ever.

 

 

 

Detroit Lions: Living Up To New Expectations

If it feels like Donald’s retirement was forever ago, Lions fans may have a bit of a gripe, as most would argue it’s been forever since they’ve been successful. However, they ended their playoff win drought last season, and in a big way.

Detroit was within a field goal of representing the NFC in the Super Bowl and based off the first half of their game against the San Francisco 49ers, they deserved to do so. It’s clear that head coach Dan Campbell has built a new culture in the Motor City, and when paired with great draft picks like WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, it’s a recipe for success.

The Lions also brought in key free agents to help live up to this new standard with players like CB Carlton Davis and DT DJ Reader.

 

 

 

Rams vs. Lions Odds, Spreads, Total & Betting Lines

Before we dive into the best bet from our Rams vs. Lions predictions and your $1,500 sign up bonus, here are the latest odds for Sunday Night Football at BetMGM Sportsbook:

 

 

 

Rams vs. Lions Under 52.5 Points (-110 at BetMGM Sportsbook)

Primetime unders. We could summarize our Rams vs. Lions predictions with those two words. We won’t, but primetime unders were fantastic for fans last season, and that has been a theme for a handful of seasons now.

Over the past five years, primetime unders have hit at over a 60% clip. That may not be an earth-shattering percentage, but as any successful sports bettor will tell you, that is more than good enough! Not to mention, BetMGM is providing great value, as this is as low as 51 points elsewhere.

Even still, last year’s NFC Wild Card matchup had a total of 53, and we stayed under by six points. We know that Donald being absent hurts the Rams defense, but in totality, we still have enough trust for both sides to do their part with such a high total - it’s the highest of the entire Week 1 slate and the only one above 50 points.

It’s worth noting that Detroit was also the best team in the NFL last season against the spread, so that could also be a consideration for your Rams vs. Lions predictions. Either way, our Rams vs. Lions predictions are focused on under 52.5 points (-110 at BetMGM Sportsbook).

 

 

 

Rams vs. Lions Injury Report & Latest News

Detroit RB Jahmyr Gibbs was one of the most significant injuries in the preseason, and we’ve shared the latest report below:

LA Rams:

  • Jonah Jackson (Questionable)
  • Puka Nacua (Questionable)
  • Rob Havenstein (Questionable)
  • Cobie Durant (Questionable)

DET Lions:

  • Loren Strickland (OUT)
  • Ifeatu Melifonwu (Doubtful)
  • DJ Reader (Questionable)

 

 

 

How To Bet On Rams vs. Lions At BetMGM Sportsbook & Claim Your $1,500 Bonus With Promo Code ALARM

We know that you want to get yourself set up in time to enjoy the full Week 1 slate, not just Sunday Night Football. Therefore, we’ve broken down how to claim your $1,500 BetMGM sign up bonus alongside our Rams vs. Lions predictions in just a few steps:

  1. Sign up here for a new BetMGM account
  2. Enter the BetMGM promo code ALARM
  3. Make a first-time deposit of $10 or more
  4. Wager $10+ and up to $1,500 on anything
  5. Receive a refund in bonus bets if it loses

Even if you decide to wager on something other than the Rams vs. Lions odds, you can target any sporting event and still have first-bet protection worth up to $1,500! Again, just be sure that the BetMGM promo code ALARM is filled in when becoming a new member.