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Est. 2019

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Sports BettingMonday, December 29, 20253 min read

Rams vs Falcons MNF Betting Preview: LA Laying 8.5 in Atlanta to Close Week 17

The only NFL game tonight features the 11-4 Rams as road favorites against the 6-9 Falcons. Here's how to approach the final game of Week 17.

By Sharp Money Mike

Est. 2019
THE RAGING DEGENERATE
Your Daily Dose of Gambling News
Sports Betting
Rams vs Falcons MNF Betting Preview: LA Laying 8.5 in Atlanta to Close Week 17
The only NFL game tonight features the 11-4 Rams as road favorites against the 6-9 Falcons. Here's how to approach the final game of Week 17.
By Sharp Money Mike
ragingdegenerate.com
#NFL #Rams #Falcons #MondayNightFootball #DegenLife #GamblingNews

Week 17 wraps up tonight with the Los Angeles Rams traveling to Atlanta to face the Falcons on Monday Night Football. It's the only game on the slate, which means every degen in America will be locked in for one final sweat before the New Year.

The Rams are rolling. The Falcons are flailing. The line reflects it.

The Quick Hit

  • Spread: Rams -8.5 (-110)
  • Moneyline: Rams -395 / Falcons +310
  • Total: 49.5 (O -120 / U -110)
  • Kickoff: 8:15 PM ET, ESPN
  • Weather: Dome game, no factors

Where the Line Moved

This game opened with the Rams favored by 7.5 points. The move to -8.5 tells you where the money went — sharps loaded up on LA early and the books had to adjust.

The total opened at 48.5 and has crept up to 49.5, suggesting bettors expect offense. Both teams can score, but neither defense has been particularly stout. The over has cashed in four of the Rams' last six games.

The Case for the Rams

Los Angeles is 11-4 and fighting for NFC West positioning. Matthew Stafford has been efficient all season, the running game has been productive, and the defense has shown up when it matters.

The Rams have covered in five of their last seven games. They're 6-2 ATS as favorites this year. And they just handled the Cardinals 45-17 on the road — this isn't a team that takes its foot off the gas.

Sean McVay's squads historically perform well in primetime. The Rams are 17-9 ATS in their last 26 Monday night games. They know how to show up when the lights are brightest.

The Case for the Falcons

Atlanta's 6-9 and playing out the string, but that doesn't mean they're dead. The Falcons have actually covered in four of their nine games as underdogs this season.

Playing at home with nothing to lose can be dangerous. The Falcons have enough talent on offense to put up points, and a garbage-time cover is always in play when you're getting almost two touchdowns.

The 8.5-point spread is a lot to lay against a team with no quit. Atlanta has stayed within one score of good teams before. The Falcons lost to the Vikings by just 6 points earlier this season and gave the Chiefs a fight in Week 4.

The Sharps Angle

The line movement suggests sharps are on the Rams, but 8.5 is a key number that makes covers more difficult. History shows road favorites of 8+ points cover only about 47% of the time in the NFL.

If you like LA, the moneyline at -395 requires you to risk a lot to win a little. If you like Atlanta, getting +8.5 with a team that can score feels like a reasonable flier.

The Bottom Line

This is a tough spot. The Rams are clearly the better team, but 8.5 points on the road is a lot to give up in a game where Atlanta has no pressure and nothing to lose.

The under might be the play nobody's talking about. While both offenses have been productive, Monday night games have a history of going under, and the Falcons' pace could slow things down.

If you're forcing a pick: take the Falcons +8.5 and hope for a garbage-time backdoor cover. But honestly? Sometimes the smart play is to enjoy the game and save your bankroll for the playoffs.

Good luck out there, degenerates. Week 17 ends tonight.