We hit Thursday night hot off a +525 Jalen Hurts First TD! Why not try again with a little Saints-Rams first touchdown picks? Tail me!
Tonight’s game in Los Angeles features a pair of 7-7 teams clawing to make the playoffs. Even though the Saints have won two straight, it feels like the Rams are the hotter – or at least more dangerous – team. That’s probably due in part to Saints coach Dennis Allen being terrible on the road following two straight wins, and the QB position prone to massive implosion. LA hasn’t been without its own faults, but features the better coach and QB in this matchup. Here are the best First TD options for Thursday Night Football!
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Saints-Rams TNF First Touchdown Picks
New Orleans Saints Touchdown Scorer
The Saints are going to need all the help they can get on offense just to keep up with the Rams. That should come in the form of a healthy Chris Olave who is a magnet for productivity and targets. Derek Carr loves to throw to Olave but especially early in drives – and games. The Saints standout receiver has a TD in three of his last five games and is being devalued primarily due to injury concerns – and possibly how bad his QB can play at times.
It’s definitely not due to the Rams defense, a unit that can easily be picked on by the Carr-Olave tandem. The Saints have a serious weapon in Alvin Kamara, both in the air and on the ground, to force the Rams to make some tough decisions. LA already struggles in most coverages and overall defending the pass, so taking the top receiver at 15-1 is tremendous value.
Saints-Rams First Touchdown Picks: Chris Olave +1500 at BetMGM for 0.25 Units
Los Angeles Rams First Touchdown Scorer
There’s currently a 500 point difference in the odds for first TD between Kyren Williams and Cooper Kupp. Kupp sits all the way back at 9-1 on FanDuel – to Williams +400 on BetMGM – which seems a tad off based on recent productivity. For most of the past few seasons the defensive matchup simply hasn’t mattered. Kupp was able to do whatever he wanted no matter the player or coach defending or planning against him. For the past two weeks that version of Kupp has returned and that same principle should apply to the Saints.
The Saints have a better secondary and overall defense against the pass than the Rams, but Kupp is far from just an average receiver in the mix. Sean McVay will put Kupp all over the field, mirroring routes seen by both tight ends and running backs. Speaking of one, Williams is on a vicious tear through opposing defenses and should have early success against the Saints. At some point in the Rams opening drive the Saints are going to make a mistake, either a blunder or simply going solo coverage on Kupp. Either way, he scores first.
Saints-Rams First Touchdown Picks: Cooper Kupp +900 at FanDuel for 0.25 Units
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