NFL betting trends: Los Angeles Rams Thrive in the Spotlight

As we near the halfway mark of the NFL season, there are plenty of juicy trends and eye-catching analytics available to make smart wagering decisions.

Let's break down the latest metrics from around the NFL and determine the trends you should take advantage of in Week 9 and beyond.

Road underdogs after a loss

It has been a rough two weeks for this trend, as it has gone 2-8 against the spread (ATS) in that time. However, looking at the long term, this trend is bound to bounce back strong.

Since the start of the 2019 season, road underdogs are 107-83-5 ATS after a loss. Road underdogs, after a loss, have a 19-19 record ATS in 2021.

In Week 9, there are five games that fit this mold — Houston at Miami, Minnesota at Baltimore, Cleveland at Cincinnati, Atlanta at New Orleans, and Chicago at Pittsburgh.

Also keep an eye on the spreads of Arizona at San Francisco and the Los Angeles Chargers at Philadelphia, as both of those games could fit this script.

This category is a moneymaker, and there are very few long-term trends you can say that about.

Thursday night Unders and Sunday night Overs

Through eight weeks, the Under is 67-54 overall and 65-44 in non-overtime games.

In Thursday night games, the Under is 6-2. In Sunday night games, the Over is 6-2. That means non-overtime, Sunday afternoon games are 54-36-1 in favor of the Under.

Road underdogs had a strong showing last week, and they are now 43-29-1 ATS through eight weeks, so the previous trend also comes into effect here.

McVay loves the spotlight

Since taking over as head coach for the Los Angeles Rams in 2017, Sean McVay has coached in 19 regular-season prime-time games. His overall record in those games is 13-6 straight up and 12-6-1 ATS.

If you include postseason games, the Rams are 12-2 ATS in their past 14 prime-time games. The Rams had a crushing ATS loss last week after going up 38-0 on the Houston Texans, but it puts them in another good trend spot this week.

The Rams are 13-3 ATS in their last 16 games following an ATS loss. The Tennessee Titans will also be without Derrick Henry.

Baltimore uses time off wisely

When you think of great teams off a bye, you wisely think of great head coaches like Andy Reid and Bill Belichick. Well, add another name to that list: John Harbaugh.

The Baltimore Ravens are 10-3 straight up and 9-4 ATS following a bye since Harbaugh took over the team.

The Ravens needed this bye week after a blowout loss to the Cincinnati Bengals and a handful of injuries. They should be getting several of their players back and find themselves in a few other good trend spots.

The Ravens have covered four consecutive games following an ATS loss and six consecutive games at home against a team with a losing road record.

The Minnesota Vikings are 1-10 ATS in their last 11 games on fieldturf.

Road teams off a bye

Since 2003, road teams coming off a bye are an impressive 69-42-6 ATS. It is a small sample size thus far this year, but teams in that spot are 3-3 ATS this season.

In Week 9, the Las Vegas Raiders fit this mold.

The road team is 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings between the Raiders and New York Giants. The Giants are also 1-5 ATS in their last six games following an ATS win and 0-5 ATS in their last five games at home against a team with a winning road record.