How to bet Tampa Bay-St. Louis
Surprisingly – likely due to negative game scripts that have allowed opposing teams to sit on leads and run the ball for most of the game – the Rams are allowing the ninth most points to running backs, so there is some glimmer of hope if you’re forced to start someone from the Bucs backfield this Thursday.
Prediction: This isn’t the sexiest late-season matchup the NFL could present, as neither club has much hope of playing postseason football, however it does feature the top two offensive rookies the NFC has to offer. There’s been numerous indications this season, from the attitudes of front office members all the way to the marketing team’s decisions to more heavily reference Los Angeles in promotional material, that would seem to show the Rams’ plans to be in California next year.
FOX 2’s Sports Director Martin Kilcoyne talks about the atmosphere at the stadium. They need to beat the Bucs to finish with a winning record at Edward Jones Dome for just the third time in the last decade. The Rams are 0-6 when he plays and has fewer than 100 yards rushing, but are 4-1 when he tops the century mark on the ground.
The Rams are so reliant on Gurley because their passing game is anemic. Rookie QB Jameis Winston has 3,059 yards and 18 TD passes.
The Buccaneers and Rams will play each other on Thursday, Dec. 17 at 8:25 p.m. EST on the NFL Network. The Rams are coming off a great win against the Detroit Lions in which they looked like the Rams team from earlier this season. If the Bucs want to ensure a win this game, they are going to need to continue to stop the run as well as they have been. Tampa Bay is yielding the fewest yards per rush (3.4) in the National Football League, and has allowed only one player to rush for more than 100 yards this season (Houston’s Alfred Blue in Week 3).
Even if the Rams manage to get a win on Thursday, it will be a bittersweet event.
Lamar Miller (Miami Dolphins) at San Diego Chargers: Miller is up against a defense that allows the 5 most fantasy points to running backs.
Alongside their heralded first-round draft pick, the second biggest story for the Bucs has been the resurgence of tailback Doug Martin. Rams RB Todd Gurley had 140 yards with 8.8-yard average last week and needs 25 yards for 1,000-yard season.