Two teams with playoff aspirations will collide in a key Week 16 showdown when the Los Angeles Rams host the New Orleans Saints on Thursday Night Football at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. The Rams (7-7) have won four of their last five games and enter the week holding the third and final wild card spot in the NFC playoff bracket. They are coming off a 28-20 victory over the Commanders. Meanwhile the Saints (7-7) have won their last two games and are in a dogfight with Tampa Bay (7-7) and Atlanta (6-8) for the NFC South title.
Kickoff is scheduled for 8:15 p.m. ET. Los Angeles is a 4-point favorite in the latest Saints vs. Rams odds, while the over/under for total points scored is 46. Before you make any Rams vs. Saints picks or NFL bets, you need to see what SportsLine expert Larry Hartstein has to say, considering his mastery of picks involving New Orleans.
A former lead writer for Covers and The Linemakers, Hartstein combines a vast network of Vegas sources with an analytical approach he honed working for Pro Football Focus. He tied for 52nd place (out of 1,598 entries) in the 2022 Westgate Las Vegas SuperContest, going 53-34-3 ATS. Those selections form the basis of his weekly SportsLine NFL best bets, which are 65-41-2 since the start of last season, including a 10-2 record the last four weeks.
Hartstein also is 45-31 (+1049) on his last 76 against-the-spread NFL picks in games involving the Saints. Anyone who has consistently followed him is way up.
Now, Hartstein has set his sights on Rams vs. Saints and just locked in his picks and NFL predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see his picks. Here are several NFL odds and betting lines for Saints vs. Rams:
- Saints vs. Rams spread: Los Angeles -4
- Saints vs. Rams over/under: 46 points
- Saints vs. Rams money line: Los Angeles -206, New Orleans +171
- LAR: RB Kyren Williams ranks fourth in rushing yards (953)
- NO: Saints rank sixth in scoring defense (19.1 points per game)
- Saints vs. Rams picks: See picks at SportsLine
- Saints vs. Rams live stream: Watch on Amazon Prime
Why the Rams can cover
Los Angeles receiver Cooper Kupp looks to have finally escaped from his seasonlong funk. Over his first seven games of the season, the former Super Bowl MVP had 27 receptions for 393 yards and one touchdown. Over his last three games he has 22 receptions for 265 yards and three touchdowns. He has had back-to-back games with eight receptions, at least 110 receiving yards and a score.
In addition, Aaron Donald remains a pass rushing force. The three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year leads the team in quarterback hits (21) and is tied for the lead in sacks (6.0) this season. He has at least 20 quarterback hits in eight of his last nine seasons, which is the most in the league over that span. See which team to pick here.
Why the Saints can cover
New Orleans has excelled at winning the turnover battle all season. The Saints have forced 22 turnovers, tied for ninth in the league. That takeaway prowess has helped New Orleans generate a turnover margin of +5, which is tied for eighth. By contrast, the Rams' turnover margin is -2, which is 18th.
In addition, the Saints' defense has played well all year. New Orleans allows just 19.1 points per game, which ranks sixth in the league. The team also has allowed fewer than 10 points in a game four times this season; only the Ravens' defense has been better. See which team to pick here.
How to make Rams vs. Saints picks
Hartstein has analyzed this matchup and while we can tell you he's leaning Over the point total, he has discovered a critical X-factor that has him jumping all over one side of the spread. He's sharing what it is, and which side to back, only at SportsLine.
Who wins Rams vs. Saints on Thursday Night Football, and which critical X-factor makes one side of the spread a must-back? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Rams vs. Saints spread to back, all from the expert on a 45-31 roll on picks involving the Saints, and find out.
