NFL
(8/12/23) 9:00PM Eastern.
Spread: Chargers +3 / Rams -3
ML: Chargers +130 / Rams -150
Over/Under 33.5
Free Pick: Rams -3
This is very similar to our outright win on the Cardinals +6 last night. CLICK HERE to view yesterday's analysis. LAC HC Brandon Staley doesn't play his guys early in the pre-season. When you have a good roster like the Chargers do, "his guys" represents half the team. Some #2's may get a handful of snaps but this games being played by 3rd string, practice squad, and guys who won't make an NFL roster. Staley's operated this way since he came in as HC. He's 1-5 in the pre-season because of it and his lone win came in pre-season game #3 last year when he rolled out his starters.
Sean McVay used to operate very similar but he's come out and said "It's going to be very different than what you guys are accustomed to" and "We haven't decided exactly, but we've got to get guys ready to go. There's a lot of players on this team that haven't had an opportunity to even really suit up, play real tackle football, that we're going to be counting on against Seattle" (Reg Season opener).
The Rams have a young roster and will be playing guys that will make an impact for them during the regular season throughout this entire game. Stafford, Kupp, and Donald won't see the field today but there won't be too many other getting the night off. The Rams own the edge in back-up QB department too. The Rams will start Brett Rypien or the 25 year old rookie Stenson Bennett. Either way those 2 are likely to see the majority of snaps. The Chargers start Easton Stick and roll out rookie Max Duggan eventually.
Rypien's entering year 4 in the NFL and has a few starts under his belt. He played in every pre-season game for the Broncos last season and went 44/65 (67.7%) for 441 yards and 1 passing TD. Bennett's a 2x National Champion out of Georgia. He spent years practicing against one of the best College Defenses of all time. That 2021 Bulldogs defense has had 14 players drafted, 7 of them in the first round. Bennett's a much more experienced rookie having been in college for 6 years. He doesn't possess the elite arm strength from a true #1 QB in the NFL but he's not facing an elite defense today. He's also very mobile and good at extending plays.
Easton Stick went 36/60 (60%) for 327 yards, 1 PTD, and 2 interceptions with a QBR of 66.5 in last year's pre-season. He has just 1 career regular season pass under his belt. He'll eventually give way to Max Duggan out of TCU. It was Duggan at QB for TCU when Georgia and Stenson Bennett blew them out 65-7 in the National Title game. He had a breakout year last year but did so against Big 12 defenses. A much weaker defensive conference than the SEC. It's going to take him some time to get up to speed in the NFL.
Build your bankroll for the NFL Regular Season with every pick WinMyBets has through the NFL Pre-Season for just $99! The NFL Pre-Season can be immensely profitable when you have WinMyBets team in your corner. It's not much different than the regular season, the names on the back of the jersey are just unfamiliar to the average Joe. Huge betting advantages when you know the strengths and weaknesses of every roster from the best player down to those on the roster bubble.
