Dolphins vs. Rams Odds, Best Bets: Best ATS Picks for Monday Night Football

Dolphins vs. Rams Betting Preview, Analysis

Miami Dolphins Betting Preview

On the surface, Tua Tagovailoa's return in Week 8 has not made much of a difference for Miami.

After his team went 1-3 without him from Weeks 3-7 (Miami's bye came in Week 6), the Dolphins have dropped their last two with Tagovailoa under center. In his first game back, Miami was upset 28-27 at home by Arizona, and the Fins dropped another close one, 30-27, to the Bills in Week 9.

But Miami is playing much better the last couple weeks, especially offensively. In fact, it's been just a play or two away from having secured back-to-back impressive wins over two likely playoff teams.

The balanced Dolphins offense looks a lot more like the unit it was expected to be, but the wins are not going to come until Miami improves on defense. In terms of expected points added (EPA), this team's two worst performances of the season came the last two weeks, and now Miami has to take on a Rams offense that is getting healthy at the right time.

L.A. Rams Betting Preview

The Rams were written off after a 1-4 start that included three close losses and a blowout at the hands of the Cardinals. This team is back in the playoff hunt after taking down the Raiders, Vikings and Seahawks the last three weeks.

With Kupp and Puka Nacua on the field, and the offensive line finally close to full strength after it was decimated by injuries early this year, the Rams have scored 56 points the last two weeks (though they did need overtime to score 26 on the road in Seattle last Sunday).

Veteran QB Matthew Stafford has thrown six TDs the last two weeks, and a year after he led the Rams to a 7-1 record in their final eight games, he looks capable of leading his team to another unlikely playoff berth at age 36. With a win over the Dolphins, the Rams -- whose next three opponents are the Patriots, Eagles and Saints -- would move to one game out of the final Wild Card spot in the NFC playoffs, just behind 6-3 Green Bay.

Dolphins vs. Rams Prediction

This one should provide plenty of fireworks, especially if Dolphins WR Tyreek Hill (questionable, hamstring) Nacua and Kupp are all 100 percent healthy.

The Rams are playing much better defense than they were early this season after turning to several young players in the secondary, including undrafted rookie safety Jaylen McCollough and rookie third-rounder Kamren Kinchens.

The latter is coming off a two-interception day including a 103-yard pick-six in last week's win over Seattle, while McCollough has four interceptions on the year, all in the last four games.

It wouldn't shock us to see Miami lead this game at halftime and/or take this one down to the wire, but we're going with L.A. to stay hot at home and pull out a high-scoring win.

Dolphins vs. Rams Best Bets

A week after Bucs vs. Chiefs went to overtime on Monday Night Football, we like the over, as both Stafford and Tagovailoa should have big games on MNF tonight.

While we don't expect the Rams to win this one comfortably, we do like them to cover the tight spread.

• Rams -2.5 (-114 at FanDuel) 1 unit
• Over 48.5 (-110 at bet365) 0.75 units

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