Rams’ Super Bowl Odds Improve to +650 After Acquiring Von Miller – Are They a Good Bet?
- The acquisition of linebacker Von Miller from the Denver Broncos shortened the Super Bowl odds on the Los Angeles Rams to +650
- LA was at +750 prior to the deal
- Miller was named Super Bowl 50 MVP with the Broncos
With apologies to Whitesnake, the Los Angeles Rams have been down this road before. And here they go again – trying to add the last piece of the puzzle to their defense in order to finally own a Super Bowl title.
In the past, it’s generally worked out as well for them as it did for Jeremy Piven’s character at the end of Old School. They go over the edge and crash and burn.
That isn’t stopping them from searching for an answer. Monday saw the Rams making their latest bold move. They traded with the Denver Broncos to acquire All-Pro linebacker Von Miller.
Even when taking into consideration past history, oddsmakers were ready to acknowledge the potential impact of LA’s latest acquisition. The Super Bowl odds for the Rams improved from +750 to +650.
2022 Super Bowl Odds
| Player (Team) | Odds |
|---|---|
| Buffalo Bills | +500 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | +550 |
| Los Angeles Rams | +650 |
| Green Bay Packers | +950 |
| Baltimore Ravens | +1000 |
| Dallas Cowboys | +1000 |
| Arizona Cardinals | +1100 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | +1300 |
| Tennessee Titans | +1800 |
| Los Angeles Chargers | +2500 |
Odds as of November 1st at FanDuel.
Only the Buffalo Bills (+500) and the defending-champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+550) are showing shorter betting lines.
Does Miller Make Rams A Better Bet?
Is it Miller time for the Rams, or is Miller’s time up? LA gave up 2022 second and third-round draft picks in the deal, while Denver is paying all but $700,000 of Miller’s $9.7 million salary. Basically, the Rams are adding a three-time Pro Bowl linebacker on the cheap.
How do you not make that move, especially considering the chunk of their future the Rams have already mortgaged to assemble this team?
Broncos trade LB Von Miller to Rams. (via @JamesPalmerTV) pic.twitter.com/sWykzcmRDy
— NFL (@NFL) November 1, 2021
The team spent 2022 and 2023 first-round picks to add 13-season veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford from the Detroit Lions. A pair of 2020 first rounders, as well as a 2021 fourth-round choice, were shipped to the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2019 to acquire two-time All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey.
If you’re going to go in, you might as well go all in.
Donald Futures Could Be Trending Upward
As an aside to this deal, it might be worth giving Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald solid consideration in the NFL Defensive Player of the Year odds. Donald is currently fourth in those odds at a betting line of +800.
Those are healthy odds to garner in this betting market on a player who’s been a three-time winner of the award. Suddenly, opposing offensive coordinators are going to be facing another disruptive presence to worry about amidst the LA defense. And that could mean less time and personnel to devote to dealing with the presence of Donald.
Von Miller, Aaron Donald, and Jalen Ramsey on the same defense pic.twitter.com/nyL8XC6MlP
— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) November 1, 2021
Miller, 32, has collected at least 10 sacks in seven of his 10 NFL seasons. He was MVP of Super Bowl 50. Donald currently ranks 18th in the league with five sacks. He has been double-teamed on 106 snaps this season. That’s the fourth-most of any player in the NFL.
What Does Miller Have Left To Give?
Miller is the NFL’s active leader in career sacks with 110.5. He’s also second in tackles-for-loss (142) and third in QB hits (225).
Miller has collected 4.5 sacks for Denver this season, but just a 0.5 sacks over the past four games. He’s currently out with an ankle injury and the Broncos indicated Sunday that Miller wasn’t close to being ready to play.
Is his reduced production related to the injury, or because he was playing for a weaker team?
The Rams already lead the NFL with 25 sacks. But they rank 10th in scoring defense (21.0 points per game) and 26th in yards allowed (2,904).
Highest-graded D-Linemen since 2011:
1. Aaron Donald – 97.0
2. Von Miller – 94.6Now they are teammates 😎 pic.twitter.com/LQfDo4BJX7
— PFF (@PFF) November 1, 2021
The Rams have sought to trade for the Super Bowl for decades, going back to the 1970s, when they even gambled on the wonky knees of Joe Namath. It’s never worked before and it won’t work now.
Consecutive unimpressive performances against league doormats Detroit and Houston are raising red flags about this team. LA already lost at home to 7-1 Arizona, and face a difficult journey to Lambeau Field to face the Green Bay Packers on June 28.
If you’re seeking Super Bowl value from an NFC team, the Packers (+950) look to be that team.
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
