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LA Rams Were Offered at +1900 to Win Super Bowl 53 Back in February

Matt McEwan

by Matt McEwan in NFL Football

Updated Mar 30, 2020 · 2:39 PM PDT

Todd Gurley RB Rams shaking hand of head coach Sean McVay
Sean McVay rode Todd Gurley and an electric offense to a 13-3 record through the 2018 NFL season, and they now prepare to meet the Patriots in Super Bowl 53. (Photo by Chris Williams/Icon Sportswire)
  • On February 22, 2018, the Rams’ average odds to win Super Bowl 53 were +1900, the longest they saw all season
  • Take a look back at the LA Rams’ 2018 NFL season and how each event impacted their odds of winning the Super Bowl
  • See their current odds to beat the Patriots on February 3, 2019

The Los Angeles Rams were seen as a team on the rise heading into the 2018 NFL season. But they weren’t supposed to be here yet.

Just two years ago we were discussing whether 2016 first-overall pick Jared Goff was a bust, and how Todd Gurley’s rookie season was just a flash in the pan.

But Sean McVay worked his magic on the 4-12 Rams team he inherited in 2017, turning them into division-winners at 11-5. The 33-year-old clearly wasn’t satisfied.

In just his second year with the team, McVay has the Rams preparing to take on the greatest dynasty the NFL has ever seen in Super Bowl 53.

Current Super Bowl 53 Odds

Team Odds to win Super Bowl 53
New England Patriots -140
Los Angeles Rams +120

*Odds taken 1/24

If you want to continue looking ahead to the 2019 Super Bowl, check out our Patriots vs Rams Super Bowl 53 Odds, Picks & Predictions. We’ll be over here taking a look back at how LA got here.

Rams Opened 2018 at 17-1 to Win Super Bowl 53

When online sports betting sites released their Super Bowl odds for the 2018 NFL season on February 5th, 2018, the Rams average odds were +1700, ranging from +1500 to +1800 across our top online sports betting sites.

They had the sixth-best average odds at opening, trailing the Patriots, Eagles, Packers, Steelers, and Vikings.

Not Much Early Money on Rams

Just 17 days later, the Rams average odds had climbed to +1900, the longest odds they saw all season. Their odds were ranging from +1500 to +2000 this time.

The slightly longer odds saw LA fall back to the eighth-best odds in the NFL, with the Saints and Falcons jumping them.

Huge Offseason Acquisitions Boosted LA’s Super Bowl Odds

While most of the discussion leading up to NFL free agency was focused on where Kirk Cousins would sign, the Rams shook up the free agency period by trading for star corners Aqib Talib and Marcus Peters.

In order to take on those contracts, though, LA traded away DE Robert Quinn and ILB Alec Ogletree, while letting WR Sammy Watkins and DB Trumaine Johnson walk in free agency.

The moves shortened their average Super Bowl odds to +1600, only ranging from +1400 to +1700. The trades were a win in the eyes of the sportsbooks, but not a huge one.

They received another boost when they made another huge splash on March 26, signing free agent DT Ndamukong Suh. The idea of Suh and reigning DPOY Aaron Donald in the middle was a truly frightening thought, resulting in their average Super Bowl odds improving to +1400.

Acquiring Cooks Ahead of Draft Legitimized Rams as Top Contenders

On April 3, the Los Angeles Rams announced that they had traded their first-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, along with their sixth-round pick, to New England for WR Brandin Cooks and the Patriots’ fourth-round pick.

The corresponding movement on the odds sheet was LA becoming a +1100 average wager to win Super Bowl 53, with their odds ranging from +800 to +1400.

This put them into the top five contenders with only the Patriots, Eagles, Vikings, and Steelers still sporting better odds.

Bettors Back Rams Heading Into 2018 NFL Draft

After acquiring Cooks, Talib, and Peters, many bettors were sold on the Rams in 2018.

Just ahead of the first-round of 2018’s NFL Draft, scheduled for April 26, the Rams saw their average odds shorten below four digits (+1000) for the first time. Ranging anywhere from +900 to +1000, LA’s average odds came in at +910.

They also jumped the Steelers and Vikings, seeing themselves in the top three contenders for Super Bowl 53 for the first time all year.

This wasn’t due to more personnel moves, rather money coming in on what most believed was the most talented roster in the league.

Rams Become Super Bowl Favorites After Week 2

After not playing any of his starters in the preseason, McVay’s squad started the 2018 NFL season looking a little rusty.

They fell behind 7-0 early to the Oakland Raiders and still trailed 13-10 at halftime.

But then everyone saw just how scary this Rams team could be in the second half, as they pulled away 33-13.

They would carry that momentum into Week 2, trouncing the Arizona Cardinals 34-0.

Paired with some early slip-ups from the Patriots and Eagles, the Los Angeles Rams were now Super Bowl 53 favorites for the first time, sporting average odds of +610 and odds as short as +545.

Rams Become Heavy Favorites During 8-0 Start

Following their victory in Seattle over the Seahawks in Week 5, the Rams saw their shortest average odds of the entire season, excluding their current odds after booking their ticket to the Super Bowl.

LA was listed at an average of +290 to hoist the Lombardi Trophy, while their closest competitor was the Chiefs and Patriots at +630 each.

Their odds saw a slight bump to +310 after narrowly escaping Denver with a 23-20 win. This marked the first time we had seen Jared Goff and company experience any difficulties putting points on the board.

Rams Remained Favorites After Loss to Saints

The Rams saw their perfect season ruined in Week 9 by the New Orleans Saints.

Drew Brees carved them up to the tune of 346 yards and 4 touchdowns, with 211 of those yards and 1 touchdown going to Michael Thomas.

In spite of the blemish, online sports betting sites still favored the Rams to win Super Bowl 53, listing them at an average of +360.

Monday Night Madness Against the Chiefs

On November 19 (Week 11), the Los Angeles Rams hosted the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday Night Football. It turned out to be the greatest game of football I have ever witnessed.

The game saw two of the most explosive offenses in NFL history trade blow for blow en route to 14 total touchdowns and 105 total points. And if the points weren’t enough, there were four lead changes in the fourth quarter alone.

What was really encouraging for the Rams offense was how well they performed without Cooper Kupp, who had been lost for the season with a knee injury the week prior.

Though the Rams came out on top, the 51 points they allowed raised some serious concerns about their defense. They had now allowed 127 points in a three-game span.

As a result, the Rams were no longer seen as Super Bowl favorites, relinquishing that title to the Saints, who were riding a nine-game winning streak after hammering the defending champs 48-7 in Week 11.

LA’s average odds may have gotten better after the win, from +360 to +340, but the Saints were getting shorter odds at +290.

Concerns Arise in Chicago

Through the first 12 games of the 2018 NFL season, the Rams had failed to score at least 30 points just twice – 23 points in Denver and 29 points vs Green Bay. McVay’s offense had been nearly unstoppable, averaging 34.9 points per game.

But their dominance was brought into question on Sunday Night Football of Week 13 in Chicago.

LA’s offensive line struggled to protect their quarterback, allowing him to be sacked three times. Goff did not handle the pressure well, either, tossing four interceptions on the evening, leading to a laughable 19.1 passer rating.

The Rams had taken back the title of Super Bowl favorites the week prior, thanks to the Saints losing to the Cowboys, but gave it right back after their 15-6 loss at the hands of the Bears. Their average odds remained pretty short at +380, but the gap between them and the Saints grew.

Settling for No. 2 Seed in NFC

The loss to Chicago in Week 14 gave the no. 1 seed in the NFC, which comes with rights to home field advantage in the playoffs, back to New Orleans. The two had identical 11-2 records, but the Saints held the tiebreaker thanks to their victory over the Rams in Week 9.

However, with the Saints still having to deal with Carolina twice – who wasn’t a great team this year, but always plays them tough – and a desperate Steelers team, the top seed was certainly up for grabs.

That changed when the Rams lost to the Eagles in Week 15.

For the second straight week, Jared Goff turned in an underwhelming performance. He faltered again when pressured, turning the ball over twice – one interception and one fumble.

The more concerning part, though, was seeing their All-Pro RB Todd Gurley exit the game with a knee injury. The former first-round pick was fortunately listed as day-to-day, but sat out the final two regular season games.

The loss gave the Saints a one-game lead over the Rams, with the tiebreaker in hand, entering the final two weeks. It was simply too steep of a mountain for LA to climb with such little time.

Having to settle for the no. 2 seed in the NFC, which would mean they’d travel to New Orleans again for the NFC Championship, should both teams advance, resulted in LA’s odds going from an average of +450 to +480.

The dip allowed the Kansas City Chiefs, who did claim the no. 1 seed in the AFC, to leap the Rams as the team with the second-best odds to win Super Bowl 53.

CJ Anderson Lifts Rams Past Cowboys in Divisional Round

In Todd Gurley’s first game back since suffering the knee injury in Week 15 against the Eagles, it was expected McVay might ease him back into the lineup. What wasn’t expected was for CJ Anderson to go off for 123 yards and 2 touchdowns on 23 carries.

The former Bronco, who was added to the Rams roster ahead of Week 16, after being released by the Panthers five weeks earlier, had impressed in Weeks 16 and 17, totaling 299 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns. But that came against the lowly Cardinals and 49ers.

Gurley had a nice return, rushing for 115 yards and a touchdown of his own. But Anderson was the back in the game when it mattered most in the fourth quarter.

Blown Calls in NFC Championship

Heading into New Orleans for the NFC Championship, the Rams found themselves in unfamiliar territory: they were listed as the Super Bowl longshots of the four remaining teams.  Their +360 average odds were just slightly longer than fellow underdog New England Patriots (+340).

While both dogs would come through during Conference Championship Sunday, it wasn’t without controversy.

There’s no question that Nickell Robey-Coleman interfered with Tommylee Lewis on a 3rd-and-10 late in the fourth quarter that would have sent the Saints to the Super Bowl. But it wasn’t the only missed call.

And while Louisiana lawyer Frank D’Amico may be filing a lawsuit against the NFL, it’s not going to change the fact that the Rams will be heading to Atlanta for Super Bowl 53.

Considering the Saints did win the coin toss in overtime and proceeded to turn the ball over, no Rams fan should feel any guilt while celebrating.

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