The St. Louis Rams were obviously dealt a heavy blow in the pre-season as they lost their “franchise” quarterback. Can they overcome it? This is something for which football bettors will be seeking answers. On Sunday they will play host to the Minnesota Vikings at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis, in a game scheduled for 1 PM ET.
Sam Bradford went out with a knee injury against Cleveland in the pre-season. That torn ACL could actually spell the end to his career. And they have to turn to backup Shaun Hill, who they hope will bring a true veteran presence to the table. The Vikings had to go through a coaching change in the off-season as they hired former Cincinnati Bengal defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer. NFL bettors should keep in mind that the Vikes are only one year removed from making it to the playoffs, but obviously the situation there deteriorated very quickly.
The Rams have their work cut out for them, in a division (the NFC West) with three teams that finished 10-6 last year – the Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers and Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks. Can they be a contender with a second-team quarterback?
In the football betting odds that are currently posted at BetAnySports on this game, the Rams are favored:
Pro Football Betting Lines Courteys Of BetAnySports USA Live Betting Sportsbook
St. Louis Rams -3 (-120)
Minnesota Vikings +3 (+100)
Over 43 Points -110
Under 43 Points -110
Apparently Zimmer was trying to get the Vikings’ attitude changed, and this was reflected in the team’s 4-0 record in the pre-season. Still, there was no sign of Adrian Peterson, who is going to be so critical to this team’s fortunes because they are not going to be able to win on the arm of Matt Cassel, who was brought in, for all intents and purposes, as a seat-warmer while Vikings develop Teddy Bridgewater, the first-round draft choice out of Louisville.
BetAnySports customers know that Zimmer has his work cut our for him when it comes to turning the defensive unit around; after all, they allowed more points than any other NFL team in 2013. And they lost a pass rusher when Jared Allen went to the Chicago Bears. It isn’t going to get very easy for Zimmer from here, as the Vikings face New England, New Orleans, Atlanta and Green Bay over the next four weeks.
Hill is a lot more experienced than most backups, although he hasn’t made a start in the NFL since 2010. He is 13-13 lifetime as a starter in San Francisco and Detroit. And his ratio of 41 career TD passes to 23 interceptions is solid. Perhaps the Rams, who have planned to rely on the run anyway, will be just fine with him at the helm. When Steven Jackson left before last season, it was a mystery as to how St. Louis would move the ball on the ground. Now they could have some real depth. Zac Stacy had 937 yards as a rookie, and there is a newcomer, Tre Mason, from Auburn.
Football bettors have heard a rather bold claim on the part of Peterson, who is predicting a touchdown on his very first carry of the season. Whether that happens or not is anyone’s guess, but when the Vikings and Rams met two years ago, he had 212 yards. Now he will test what may have developed into one of the league’s best defensive lines.
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