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Dolphins Open as 3.5-Point Underdogs vs Rams in Tua’s First Start

Ryan Bolta

by Ryan Bolta in NFL Football

Updated Mar 4, 2021 · 12:45 PM PST

Tua Tagovailoa Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) celebrates his score against the New England Patriots during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
  • The Miami Dolphins host the Los Angeles Rams at 1 PM Eastern on Sunday, November 1st
  • Rookie quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will make his first NFL start for the Dolphins
  • Here are the opening odds, line up notes and potential hints at line movement closer to kickoff

Your first chance to bet on Tua Tagovailoa as a starter has arrived.

The opening line is out and the Miami Dolphins are 3.5-point underdogs against the Los Angeles Rams.

Rams vs Dolphins Opening Odds

Team Spread Moneyline Total
Los Angeles Rams -3.5 (-110) -184 N/A
Miami Dolphins +3.5 (-110) +154 N/A

Odds taken Oct 27th at FanDuel. 

Dolphins head coach Brian Flores made the surprising switch from Ryan Fitzpatrick to Tagovailoa heading into the bye. With the college superstar at quarterback this should be a game that sees a lot of action from the public. Here is a break down of both teams that could help you decide who you should wager on before any line movement complicates matters.

Tagovailoa Given Great Opportunity to Succeed

Tagovailoa owes his head coach a debt of gratitude. Miami had just beat the lowly New York Jets 24-0 when the decision was made to instill a new QB1. It was a clear signal that the Dolphins wanted to give their new quarterback every chance to succeed. He played a few snaps against the Jets and was given the teams longest layoff of the season to prepare for his first start. All things considered, it appears like the coaching staff in Miami is confident in their decision.

Many questioned the move with Fitzpatrick playing good football to this point but he was just keeping the seat warm. The Dolphins didn’t spend the 5th pick in the NFL draft on Tagovailoa to have him watch from the sidelines. What can you expect to see from the former Alabama star? In 32 college games he completed 69.3% of his passes for 87 touchdowns and only 11 interceptions. Despite being small for an NFL quarterback, Tagovailoa is exceptionally accurate and quite often spectacular. Some have compared him to New Orleans Saints pivot Drew Brees which is lofty but fair. That said, it’s his first NFL start and Flores could choose a more measured approach in game one.

Rams Continue to Rack Up Wins

Few teams have had an easier run of it than the Los Angeles Rams. They now have five wins on the season – four came against the disastrous NFC East and most recently they upended Nick Foles and Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football. Their two losses this season came against the two toughest opponents they’ve played in the Buffalo Bills and San Francisco 49ers. It’s tough to gauge whether this is a contending team or simply one that takes advantage of poor opponents when they pop up on the schedule.

Defensive tackle Aaron Donald is still the games most fearsome defensive player. He’s averaging more than a sack per game and could be a problem for the Dolphins offensive line. There’s no sneaking up on teams when you’re as good as Donald so the question is how will Miami react? They need to protect Tagovailoa from getting hit early and often or their rookie quarterback could have a long afternoon.

Expect Line Movement Prior to Kickoff

Public bettors love wagering on the favorites. This though, is one of the exceptions. A superstar college player making his widely anticipated debut should have public money siding with Miami. If you too want to side with Tagovailoa in his first start placing your bet while you’re getting more than a field goal is probably best. On the flip side, if you’re looking to fade the freshman think about waiting until closer to kickoff.

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