It's make or break time for QB Goff

NFL
Sky Sports 2, 9.05pm

There's something of a freak show at the LA Coliseum on Sunday night as the Rams finally unveil their number one draft pick Jared Goff at quarterback.

The Rams handed over a treasure chest of picks to trade with Tennessee to get the top pick, but Goff looked so overwhelmed in pre-season action that the Rams have held him back.

The signs aren’t good for Rams fans that it took this long for coach Jeff Fisher to turn to Goff given how badly veteran starter Case Keenum has struggled.

The Rams are the lowest-scoring team in the league and have not scored more than ten points in their last three games.

The record of first overall pick QBs on their debuts doesn’t read well for Goff either. Jameis Winson, Andrew Luck, Cam Newton, Sam Bradford, Matt Stafford, JaMarcus Russell, Alex Smith, Eli Manning and Carson Palmer all lost their first NFL games with David Carr for Houston in 2002 being the last prized pick to win his first start.

Miami would have been the pick to cover the handicap but a rash of injuries on their offensive line has come at a bad time.

The points line is low, with good reason, as LA are better equipped than most to slow Miami running back Jay Ajayi and the biggest threat to unders backers could be defensive touchdowns.

Recommendation
Under 40 points
1pt 10-11 Betfred

The lowdown
TV Sky Sports 2 Starts 9.05pm
Venue Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California
Surface Grass
Weather Chance of showers, 19C
Best handicaps Miami -1.5; Los Angeles +2.5
Points line 39.5-40

Team news
Miami
Left tackle Branden Albert (wrist) has been ruled out and centre Mike Pouncey (hip) is doubtful. cornerback Xavien Howard (knee) is out and linebacker Jelani Jenkins (knee) is doubtful. Wide receivers Jarvis Landry (shoulder) and Kenny Stills (calf) are questionable, along with defensive end Mario Williams (ankle).

Los Angeles
Centre Tim Barnes (foot), running back Todd Gurley (thigh), cornerback Lamarcus Joyner (ankle), defensive end Robert Quinn (illness), and defensive end Eugene Sims (concussion) are all rated questionable.

Key stat
Los Angeles are the lowest-scoring team in the NFL