Aaron Rodgers is almost certain to win the league’s MVP award this year, but that won’t mean anything to him if his team gets knocked out in their first playoff game. While the Green Bay Packers are definitely the favorites to come out of the NFC, Rodgers and his supporting crew will have to deal with the mighty Los Angeles Rams’ defense.
The Rams have plenty of questions of their own, not the least of which is whether Jared Goff’s thumb is truly ready to go for a full four quarters of football against an elite team, but they’ve come out as the only team left standing from the NFC West, a division many considered to be the strongest in football this year.
As high as the stakes are for this divisional round playoff game, you can make yours even higher by playing a same-game parlay. The great thing about SGPs is that you can design them in ways that one prop is more likely to affect another prop, and you’ll still receive a good odds boost. This is what we recommend playing for Rams-Packers.
Under 45.5 Total (-108)
Cam Akers Over 73.5 Rushing Yards (-112)
Aaron Rodgers Under 257.5 Passing Yards (-112)
Marquez Valdes-Scantling to score a touchdown (+460)
Parlay odds: +4595
FanDuel is offering this four-way parlay at incredible odds of +4595. Let’s break it down one by one.
Under 45.5 Total (-108)
Of the eight playoff teams remaining, the Rams are without a doubt the most defensive-oriented. That’s not to say there aren’t other good defenses left, but Los Angeles wins games on this side of the ball. It’s always a safe bet to assume that opposing offenses, even that of the Packers, won’t come near their season-highs in scoring when up against the Rams. As for their offense, starting quarterback Jared Goff is still dealing with a thumb injury, and he’s up against a defense that’s allowed 16 points or fewer in four of their past five games. The under is a good bet, and it should be included in your parlay.
Cam Akers Over 73.5 Rushing Yards (-112)
Akers made a name for himself in a Thursday Night game in early December, rushing for 171 yards in the Rams’ 24-3 win over the Patriots. While the rookie didn’t quite match that number last week, he did run for 131 – and a touchdown – in his playoff debut as the Rams took down the Seahawks. He’s become their go-to guy out of the backfield, and you have to imagine they’ll be going to him a lot, not just because of his performance, but to ease the burden on Goff’s thumb and not risk any unnecessary hits to their quarterback. Akers should break 75 on Saturday.
Aaron Rodgers Under 257.5 Passing Yards (-112)
Rodgers won’t be the only Aaron on the field who’s the best at what he does. Rams defensive end Aaron Donald was just named to his sixth consecutive First Team All-Pro, and he’s the clear leader of their defense. Further complicating matters for the Packers, All-Pro left tackle David Bakhtiari is out for the rest of the season with a torn ACL. With only backups separating Donald from Rodgers, don’t expect the Packers’ quarterback to have one of his best days. It may be enough for a win, but it won’t be a statline worth going back to.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling to score a touchdown (+460)
Valdes-Scantling caught five of his six touchdowns this year in the second half of the season. He’s been one of Rodgers’ favorite targets and specializes in the deep ball – his 20.9 yards per catch lead the league by more than two full yards. He won’t receive the most looks throughout the course of the game, but it only takes one perfectly timed deep ball for a score, and at odds of +460 to boost your parlay, it’s a good choice for your anytime touchdown scorer.
Free NFL Playoffs Divisional Round Picks and Predictions
Be sure to check out our full-game previews for every matchup in the divisional round:
- Los Angeles Rams vs. Green Bay Packers
- Baltimore Ravens vs. Buffalo Bills
- Cleveland Browns vs. Kansas City Chiefs
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. New Orleans Saints
Pickswise is the home of free NFL Picks. We have round-by-round analysis including our Wild Card Round Picks, Divisional Round Picks, Conference Championship Picks, and Super Bowl Picks.
