Rams vs. Seahawks odds, line, spread: NFL picks, 2021 Wild Card Round predictions by top model on 119-77 roll
The Los Angeles Rams are just two years removed from a berth in the NFC title game, while the Seattle Seahawks have gone six seasons without competing for the conference championship. The NFC West rivals will meet on Saturday in the 2021 NFL Playoffs. Kickoff from Lumen Field, formerly known as CenturyLink Field, is set for 4:40 p.m. ET. Aside from quarterback Russell Wilson, the Seahawks (12-4) have few holdovers from the memorable clubs that earned back-to-back Super Bowl appearances while winning one of them.
However, the Rams have many of the same core players who reached the Super Bowl two seasons ago but came up short against the New England Patriots. Seattle is a three-point favorite and the over-under for total points scored is 42 in the latest Rams vs. Seahawks odds from William Hill Sportsbook. Before making any Seahawks vs. Rams picks, see the latest NFL predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's proven model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NFL game 10,000 times and is up almost $7,900 for $100 players on its top-rated NFL picks since its inception five-plus years ago. It's on a strong 23-13 roll on top-rated NFL picks this season, returning well over $800. The model enters the NFL Playoffs on an incredible 119-77 run on top-rated NFL picks that dates back to the 2017 season.
The model ranked in the Top 10 on NFLPickWatch three of the past four years on straight-up NFL picks and beat more than 95 percent of CBS Sports office pool players three times during that span. Anyone who has followed it is way up.
Now, the model has set its sights on Rams vs. Seahawks. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Now, here are the latest NFL odds and trends for Seahawks vs. Rams:
• LAR: Rams have covered the spread in five of their last six games against opponents with winning records
• SEA: Under has hit in nine Seahawks games
Why the Seahawks can cover
Seattle's rapid improvement on defense came in large part because of the mid-season acquisition of veteran pass rusher Carlos Dunlap, who arrived in a trade with the rebuilding Cincinnati Bengals. As it turns out, his cooperation both on and off the field meant a major contribution to Seattle's 6-2 mark down the stretch.
In a league with non-guaranteed contracts, it's a rarity for an NFL player to accept less than what he signed for, but Dunlap did just that in order to make the trade work. He accepted $2 million for the last nine games of the season, less than half the $4.59 million he was contractually owed. The deal includes a $3 million roster bonus that does not kick in until the start of next season.
It's fair to say the Seahawks have gotten their money's worth. Dunlap recorded five sacks, six tackles for loss and 14 quarterback hits in eight contests.
Why the Rams can cover
Even so, the Seahawks face a daunting task against a Rams club whose top-ranked scoring defense bodes well for a long postseason run. The Rams allow a league-low 18.5 points per game and haven't yielded more than 24 in the past eight weeks.
Stalwart defensive tackle Aaron Donald, widely regarded as the NFL's top defender, collected 13.5 sacks, second in the NFL only to 15 from T.J. Watt of the Steelers. Linebacker Leonard Floyd also had 10.5 sacks for a club that ranks second in the NFL with 3.3 per game, just behind Pittsburgh's 3.5.
The offense has had bouts of inconsistency and quarterback Jared Goff sat out Sunday's game because of an injured throwing thumb that required surgery. Coach Sean McVay said Goff's status for Saturday's game is uncertain but said he was confident the club could win with backup John Wolford, who made his debut as an NFL starter against the Cardinals.
How to make Rams vs. Seahawks picks
SportsLine's model is leaning over on the total, with the simulations showing the teams combining for 45 points. The model also says one side of the spread has all the value. You can only see which side to back here.
So who wins Seahawks vs. Rams in the 2021 NFL Playoffs? And which side of the spread has all the value? Visit SportsLine now to find out which side of the Seahawks vs. Rams spread you need to jump on Saturday, all from the model on a 119-77 roll, and find out.
