Raiders vs. Rams Thursday NFL Week 14 odds, trends: Las Vegas and Davante Adams taking heavy betting action, Baker Mayfield trending toward LA debut

The Los Angeles Rams won the Super Bowl on their own field just 10 months ago but enter Thursday night's game vs. the Raiders at SoFi Stadium on a six-game losing streak. Their 3-9 record is the worst-ever for a defending Super Bowl champion. Los Angeles is in such dire straits at quarterback that Baker Mayfield, just claimed off waivers Monday, is not only likely to play but may start. Las Vegas will have banged-up NFL rushing leader Josh Jacobs and is a 6.5-point favorite with heavy props action on Pro Bowl receiver Davante Adams. Click here for model picks.

At BetMGM, the Raiders opened at -5.5 and are up to -6.5 as they have taken 73% of bets and 79% of money on the spread. The total has risen from an open of 43 to 43.5 and 55% of bets and 56% of money are on Under. On the moneyline, Los Angeles is now +220 and taking 51% of bets and 31% of money.

With former No. 1 overall pick Matthew Stafford out for the season and No. 2 John Wolford dealing with a neck injury, Mayfield will start if Wolford can't go, according to Adam Schefter. Mayfield, himself a former No. 1 overall pick, has apparently jumped Bryce Perkins on the depth chart. Wolford is expected to go through pregame warmups and see how he feels before the Rams make a decision.

It has to be unprecedented for a quarterback to be claimed off waivers and then start for his new team 72 hours or so later. The Rams sent him a playbook immediately after claiming him -- that's how bad the Rams are: They are claiming someone the wretched Carolina Panthers didn't want -- so Mayfield could start studying immediately. The Rams have not officially been eliminated from playoff contention but have a 0.0% chance to make the postseason via ESPN Stats & Information.

The Raiders have won three straight games to improve to 5-7 and are currently two games behind the Jets (7-5) for the seventh and final AFC playoff spot. Las Vegas is still a +700 longer shot to make the postseason.

Jacobs has been dealing with quad and calf injuries but has been playing through them and having by far his best season. He's leading the league with 1,303 yards, the most for any Raiders back through 12 games. Jacobs' fifth-year rookie option wasn't picked up this summer, so he's poised for big money in free agency unless he and the Raiders agree on a new deal or he is slapped with the franchise tag.

The former Alabama star has rushed for at least 109 yards in three straight games. In the Raiders' three-game winning streak, his 612 yards from scrimmage lead the league. Jacobs is set at over/under 87.5 tonight, partially because the Rams will be missing All-Pro defensive tackle Aaron Donald. Jacobs is the +310 favorite to be an anytime touchdown scorer.

Adams is second in the NFL since Week 11 with 392 yards from scrimmage and is fourth in the NFL with 1,176 receiving yards overall. Jacobs and Adams are on pace to join Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin as the only duo with 1,600 rushing yards and 1,600 receiving yards in a season. They did it for the 1995 Super Bowl champion Cowboys.

Two of the three most-wagered player props tonight are on Adams -- to score the game's first TD at +400 and Over 89.5 receiving yards at -115. The other is Rams receiver Brandon Powell for an anytime TD at +375. That seems rather strange on the surface, but L.A. is so banged up at wideout that Powell has become a bigger part of the offense. He's technically questionable tonight with an illness. 

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