Best bets for New England Patriots v Los Angeles Rams

BBC1 & Sky Sports USA, Mix & Main Event, 11.30pm Sunday

It is the clash of the generations. The battle between the young buck who has everyone talking and a legend who has won it all before.

As America's greatest sporting stage awaits hostilities between the New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Rams, the word intriguing is insufficient to do it justice.

NFL teams tend to be long-term projects. Draft picks are spent to snare the cream of young college talent in an effort to build for future glory.

But these teams haven't followed that pattern and the Rams are on the cusp of reaping the rewards for their win-now mentality.

Their coach Sean McVay celebrated his 33rd birthday last week and was still in high school when his opposite number, 66-year-old Bill Belichick, was leading the Patriots to their first Super Bowl victory in 2002 against the Rams, who were then based in St Louis.

LA Rams coach Sean McVay was still in high school when Bill Belichick won his first Super BowlCredit: Scott Cunningham

That was the Rams' last appearance in the end-of-season showpiece and expectations have been high ever since they put together some serious established talent, particularly in defence, under McVay's stewardship.

Young quarterback Jared Goff has improved vastly since McVay replaced Jeff Fisher, who drafted him as the number one pick in 2016. And they have used the full extent of their salary cap to bring in defensive stars Ndamukong Suh, Dante Fowler, Aqib Talib and Marcus Peters.

That could help to tip a close game in their favour, particularly asthe Rams also possess Aaron Donald, who is regarded as the best defensive player in the game and claimed 20.5 sacks during the regular season.

There is plenty for New England quarterback Tom Brady to think about as he attempts to steer the Pats to a sixth triumph.

Tom Brady is aiming for his sixth Super Bowl with the New England PatriotsCredit: Kevin C. Cox

He and Belichick, both of whom can be considered among the greatest ever in their relative roles, have had two weeks to consider their approach but there is a difference between having a grand plan and Brady being in the condition to carry it out at the age of 41.

Brady has few rivals as an on-field tactician, but the Rams will be confident that they can get to him and limit the Patriots' progress.

If they can do that, a two-pronged rushing attack of the prolific Todd Gurley, who scored 21 touchdowns in the regular season, and recent recruit CJ Anderson, can do damage when the Rams have the ball.

The Patriots staged the greatest comeback of all-time when they recovered from a 28-3 third-quarter deficit to beat Atlanta in overtime two years ago and they are such old hands in these fixtures that they will battle to the end.

But they were found wanting in the heat of the battle against Philadelphia last year, and while they upset Kansas City superbly with an overtime victory in the AFC Championship game, they won just three of their eight away games in the regular season.

The anticipated pressure on Brady could point to a lower-scoring match than the market anticipates, especially as Patriots running back Sony Michel has been heavily utilised - the Patriots had the third highest number of rushing attempts in the regular season.

There should be plenty of time run off the clock and while the Rams and Patriots were ranked second and fourth among the 32 teams in terms of points scored, it may be that the second-highest points line in Super Bowl history will not be eclipsed.

Recommendations
Los Angeles Rams +2.5
2pts 15-16 188Bet
Under 56.5 points
1pt 10-11 Hills

The lowdown

Venue Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
Surface Artificial
Weather Chance of rain, 10C (retractable roof likely to be closed but a late decision will be taken)
Vegas handicap New England -2.5
Vegas points line 56.5

Probable line-ups
New England offence

LT T Brown 77, LG J Thuney 62, C D Andrews 60, RG S Mason 69, RT M Cannon 61, TE R Gronkowski 87, WR C Hogan 15, P Dorsett 13, J Edelman 11, QB T Brady 12, RB S Michel 26

New England defence

DE T Flowers 98, D Wise 91, DT L Guy 93, M Brown 90, LB D Hightower 54, E Roberts 52, K Van Noy 53, CB J McCourty 30, S Gilmore 24, FS D McCourty 32, SS P Chung 23

New England special teams

K S Gostkowski 3, P R Allen 6, PR J Edelman 11, KR C Patterson 84

Los Angeles Rams offence

LT A Whitworth 77, LG R Saffold 76, C J Sullivan 65, RG A Blythe 66, RT R Havenstein 79, TE T Higbee 89, QB J Goff 16, RB T Gurley 30

Los Angeles Rams defence

DE M Brockers 90, A Donald 99, NT N Suh 93, LB S Ebukam 50, M Barron 26, C Littleton 58, D Fowler 56CB A Talib 21, M Peters 22, FS L Joyner 20, SS J Johnson 43

Los Angeles Rams special teams

K G Zuerlein 4, P J Hekker 6, PR & KR J Natson 19

Team news

New England
The Patriots should be at full-strength. Defensive tackle Malcom Brown has recovered from a calf problem and linebacker Dont'a Hightower has returned to practice after illness.

Los Angeles Rams
Kicker Greg Zuerlein has been limited in practice with a foot injury but he is expected to play.

Key stat
Favourites have covered the handicap in just two of the last 11 Super Bowls.

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