Dolphins vs Rams Predictions: Rams can tame Tagovailoa at SoFi

Monday Night Football throws up an intriguing contest this week between two teams seemingly heading in opposite directions, although that is not entirely obvious in the betting as the Los Angeles Rams prepare to host the Miami Dolphins at SoFi Stadium.

NFL Odds

After winning just one of their first five games, the Rams are on a three-game winning roll to get themselves back into contention for the play-offs. They now sit second in the NFC West with a 4-4 record, behind only the Arizona Cardinals at 5-4. The Seattle Seahawks are fourth at 4-5 so there is a long way to go to secure a post-season berth but being in the shake-up after such a dismal start has to breed some confidence.

Conversely, after edging the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week One, the Dolphins have lost six of their next seven games, including each of the last three, to fall to 2-6 and third in the AFC East. Their play-off hopes could almost be ended by their next defeat.

Match odds - Dolphins @ Rams

The Los Angeles Rams have been installed as the 10/13 favourites on the Money Line, with the Miami Dolphins priced at 11/10.

Monday night's hosts have been given a slender -1.5 handicap on the spread, with both teams priced at 10/11, while the total points mark has been set at 48.5 and it is 10/11 for either over or under.

Team news

Right tackle Austin Jackson has been ruled out of the trip to LA with a knee injury, while the Dolphins are sweating over the fitness of wide receiver Tyreek Hill who has not been practising this week due to a wrist injury and is rated as questionable.

Tight end Julian Hill is expected to play despite a recent shoulder injury, while the defence has been bolstered by the return of DE Zach Sieler and cornerbacks Kader Kohou and Storm Duck.

The Rams have ruled out right tackle Rob Havenstein and nose tackle Neville Gallimore, while safety Kam Curl, linebacker Christian Rozeboom and right guard Kevin Dotson are all rated as questionable.

Rams -1.5 @ 10/11

The Rams have done well to overcome a slow start to get their season moving in the right direction but have hardly been blowing away opponents on their recent hot streak.

Sean McVay's men are averaging a little over 21 points per game, which is good enough for only 21st in the NFL, and their failure to pile on the points is always going to give their opponents a chance.

Even so, it is a little surprising that they have been underrated on the spread to be only -1.5 favourites and they look worth chancing at 10/11 to make it four wins on the bounce.

Only one team is averaging fewer points than the Dolphins this season so the Rams may not have to score that many to maintain their winning run, although there is little doubt that Miami have been boosted by the return of Tua Tagovailoa.

The Dolphins have put up 27 points in back-to-back games against the Cardinals and Buffalo Bills, but still average only 15.5 on the season, so the improvement is obvious and they can cause the Rams problems.

However, they are still losing games and have won only once on the road all season, at the hapless New England Patriots, while the Rams have already beaten the San Francisco 49ers, Minnesota Vikings and Seattle Seahawks at SoFi in a 3-1 home record and can make home advantage count once again.

Kyren Williams anytime touchdown scorer @ 8/11

Kyren Williams has been a dependable workhorse on the ground for the Rams and has been putting up good numbers, having rushed for 602 yards from 161 touches to rank 13th for rushing yards through Week 9.

However, what elevates his importance is his ability to get the job done as he ranks joint-second for rushing first downs with 43, while only Derrick Henry has scored more rushing touchdowns than his tally of eight.

Williams is also a useful target from out of the backfield and has two receiving touchdowns, so he looks worth following in the anytime touchdown-scorer market, having also scored at least one in every game barring the Seattle win so far. The fact that the Dolphins have shown they struggle to keep RBs out of the end zone only adds to the appeal.

NFL Betting Tips from Betfred Insights.