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Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams are still strong contenders for Super Bowl odds with only three weeks remaining in the 2021 NFL regular season.
After a tough battle, the Rams emerged victorious with a 20-10 win against the Seattle Seahawks on Tuesday night, keeping them tied for the NFC’s second-best record.
Are oddsmakers at legal Michigan sportsbooks confident in Stafford’s ability to succeed with the Rams?
Stafford, Rams a game out of first in NFC
Los Angeles has achieved a record of 10-4 this season following their victory on Tuesday.
The Rams are currently one game behind the Green Bay Packers in the NFC standings, while they are tied with the Arizona Cardinals for first place in the NFC West division race.
Currently, the Cardinals hold the tiebreaker advantage over the Rams due to their impressive 4-1 record within the division. On the other hand, the Rams stand at 3-2 in the NFC West. Both teams have one more divisional game left, which will take place in Week 18.
The tiebreaker could prove crucial since there are currently four NFC teams with a record of 10-4. The team that finishes second in the West will be required to play away for the opening round of the playoffs. However, if things align favorably, the winner could secure either the No. 2 seed or even claim the top spot with a first-round bye.
Rams still on the outside of Super Bowl chase
Despite being in contention for the best record, oddsmakers still consider the Rams to face a challenging journey.
According to BetMGM Sportsbook, the Rams have +135 odds to win the NFC West, while the Cardinals are favored with -165 odds.
Intriguingly, BetMGM assigns the Rams odds of +450 to win the conference race, positioning them as the third strongest contender behind the Packers and defending champions Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Currently, Green Bay holds the favorite status with odds of +230, while Tampa sits at +270. The Cardinals are listed as +750 underdogs.
The Rams are currently listed at +900 in the Super Bowl race, putting them among the top contenders. However, there are only three teams with better odds: the Packers (+475), the Kansas City Chiefs (+475), and the Bucs (+550).
Rams remain a top liability for sportsbooks
According to BetMGM’s numbers, the Rams are still considered a high liability, possibly with some assistance from Stafford fans based in Michigan.
The Cardinals and Bucs have more liability in Super Bowl wagers compared to them, making them the third-highest liability.
In the Super Bowl market, the Rams are receiving 9.1% of the tickets and 7.5% of the handle, while Tampa is leading in both categories with 10.4% of the tickets and 16.5% of the handle.
The Rams have the sixth highest handle in the NFC market, accounting for only 8.6%. The Packers hold the top spot with 20.2% of the handle, while the Cardinals lead in ticket sales with 19.8%.
The Rams dominate the NFC West market, accounting for a staggering 44% of the handle, despite having only 32% of the tickets. Meanwhile, Arizona holds 33% of the tickets and also commands 32% of the handle.
Stafford still a top MVP option
Despite experiencing a decline during the Rams’ three consecutive losses, Matthew Stafford has shown an impressive recovery in recent weeks.
Stafford had an impressive performance in the victory against Arizona on December 13, where he threw for 287 yards and three touchdowns. However, during Tuesday night’s game against Seattle, Stafford’s numbers were slightly lower, as he recorded 244 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception.
Stafford’s current season has become his second-best career performance in terms of touchdowns, with a total of 35. In 2011, he achieved his highest number of touchdowns with 41 while playing for Detroit. Additionally, this season has proven to be Stafford’s best in terms of completion percentage, currently at 67.6%, and rating, currently at 108.2.
As of this morning at BetMGM, Stafford maintains his position in the NFL MVP race with +1600 odds. However, there are four players with higher chances, with Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers leading the pack as co-favorites with +150 odds.
Despite having the third-highest number of tickets placed at 9.8%, Stafford only accounts for 6.9% of the handle in the MVP market.
With a staggering 25.8% of the handle in the race, Brady emerges as the most significant risk in the market.
Cooper Kupp, Stafford’s fellow teammate, has recently been gaining significant attention. Initially starting the season with odds of +25000 to win the MVP, he now stands at +4000.
Cupp’s performance this season has been remarkable, as he has already accumulated 122 receptions, 1,625 yards, and 14 touchdowns. His outstanding performance puts him in contention to break Calvin Johnson’s NFL record of 1,964 yards set during the 2012 season. Moreover, Cupp is also striving to surpass Michael Thomas’ record of 149 receptions achieved in 2019.
