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Rams vs. Buccaneers Picks, Predictions Week 9: Desperation Time for Tampa Bay, LA

Connor Cooper

Last Updated: November 6, 2022 5:57 AM EST • 3 min 7 sec read.

The Tampa Buccaneers and Los Angeles Rams are both struggling. Who will snap out of their funk this week? Let's examine the matchup in our Buccaneers-Rams picks.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Los Angeles Rams have combined to win the last two Super Bowls, but neither are looking like championship contenders right now. Tampa Bay has lost five of its last six to fall to 3-5 on the year, while the Rams have dropped three of four to sit at 3-4. 

We break down the best ways to bet this game in our Rams vs. Buccaneers picks and predictions for Week 9 (odds via Caesars, PointsBet, and BetMGM).

Check out our NFL best bets and all of our top picks for Week 9!

Rams vs. Buccaneers Game Info

Date: Sunday, Nov. 6, 4:25 p.m. ET
TV: CBS
Location: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL
Weather: 83 F, 0% chance of precipitation, 12-mph winds

Rams vs. Buccaneers Odds

Rams vs. Buccaneers Odds Analysis

Early action was heavy on the Bucs. They've now the 2-point favorites, and are getting 59% of the cash and 55% of the tickets.

The total has dropped slightly from the opener of 43. It now sits are 42.5, with the Under drawing 55% of the cash and the Over getting 56% of the tickets.

Rams vs. Buccaneers Picks

  • Spread: Rams +3 (-115 via Caesars)
  • Over/Under: Under 42.5 (-107 via PointsBet)
  • Prop: Buccaneers Under 10.5 points in first half (-125 via BetMGM)

Rams vs. Buccaneers ATS Pick

Rams +3 (-115) ★★★★

The Rams’ offense has been woeful over the past month, failing to score more than 10 points in three of its last four games. But two of their losses during that stretch came against the San Francisco 49ers — a team that has had LA’s number for years — and the other was against the 6-2 Dallas Cowboys.

Tampa Bay’s issues are far less excusable. The Bucs haven’t lived up to expectations for nearly two months, failing to cover a point spread since mid-September, and they’ve lost to the Carolina Panthers, Pittsburgh Steelers and struggling Green Bay Packers during that span. Even Tampa’s vaunted defense is playing badly, allowing more than 400 rushing yards in its last two games, and now it’s without star linebacker Shaquil Barrett for the rest of the season due to injury.

LA’s ability to pressure Tom Brady has helped the Rams win and cover all three meetings since the legendary quarterback joined Tampa Bay. Expect the Rams to make life difficult for Brady and company once again this week.

Rams vs. Buccaneers O/U Pick

Under 42.5 (-107) ★★★

Brady and LA’s Matthew Stafford have been two of the league’s most prolific passers over the past decade, so this total might look surprisingly low at first glance. Look again, however, and you’ll understand why oddsmakers are projecting this game to be one of the lowest-scoring contests in Week 9 — and why I think the total should be even lower.

Tampa Bay’s team total for this game is 22.5, which is more points than the Bucs have scored in all but one of their eight games this season. LA’s offense has been even worse, ranking 28th in the NFL in points, sitting 30th in total yards, and managing 10 points or fewer in three of its last four contests.

One final angle supporting the Under in this contest is the status of Rams receiver Cooper Kupp, who has been limited in practice this week due to an ankle injury. Kupp still appears likely to play, but the Los Angeles offense will be even more ineffective with the NFL’s yards-after-the-catch leader not completely healthy.

Rams vs. Buccaneers Prop Pick

Buccaneers Under 10.5 points in first half (-125) ★★★★

Everyone’s aware of Tampa Bay’s recent offensive issues, but the Bucs have been getting off to low-scoring starts for much longer than that. In fact, Tampa Bay has gone Under its first half team total in 10 of its last 11 games going back to last season.

The Buccaneers also haven’t been able to do much in the first half of their recent meetings against Los Angeles. In last year’s NFC playoff matchup, Tampa Bay managed just a field goal in the opening half and didn’t score again until 3:02 was left in the third quarter. Four months earlier, the Bucs had just seven points at halftime in a 34-24 loss in LA.

Getting this number at 10.5 is key, since it allows us to win our bet even if Tampa Bay scores twice with a touchdown and a field goal. The odds of -125 might seem a little juicy, but it’s worth it to back a trend that has been hitting so consistently. The Bucs have also gone under their second quarter team total in 11 of their last 12 outings, so you might want to check out odds on that once prop lines become more widely available.

Where to Bet on Rams vs. Buccaneers Picks

Here are our top-rated sportsbooks:

Rams-Buccaneers picks made 11/02/2022 at 10:22 p.m. ET

Written By:
Connor Cooper
Connor Cooper has written about sports in various capacities for more than 20 years, including as a newspaper reporter, sports handicapper, and betting analyst. He originates hockey plays every day throughout the NHL season, regularly bets his own opinions on NFL and college football, and relies on handicappers he trusts to find daily action in basketball, baseball, soccer, tennis, and golf. A diehard Maple Leafs and Blue Jays fan growing up in the Toronto area, Connor quickly shed all his allegiances once he realized that making money betting on sports was much more fun than cheering for his favorite team. Connor won’t hesitate to bet on — or against — anybody if that’s where the value lies. In addition to analyzing recent and season-long statistics, Connor always looks to account for the human element when breaking down games, weighing situational and motivational factors into his handicapping process. He's also a big believer in finding creative ways to generate more value, constantly scouring BetMGM, Caesar, FanDuel, and other regulated sportsbooks' derivative markets such as team totals, alternate lines, and player props.