Larry Hartstein, the expert on that insane 28-10 roll with his Rams picks, just dropped his prediction for the 2026 Week 3 ‘Sunday Night Football’ showdown: he’s leaning hard on the Under 44 combined points for the Los Angeles Rams and Denver Broncos. This isn’t a random guess. The guy’s tracking a wild 4-0 combined Under record for both teams this season, and these dominant defenses make it undeniable.
Super Bowl Hopes Clash on ‘Sunday Night Football’
Okay, it’s Week 3, and both the Rams and Broncos are sitting at 1-1. Each team is eyeing a Super Bowl run. The Rams, under Coach Sean McVay, have been there twice, last winning Super Bowl LVI in 2021 by beating the Bengals 23-20. The Broncos, on the other hand, are chasing their first trip back since their Super Bowl 50 victory in 2015, when they topped the Panthers 24-10. This is crucial for setting the tone early, especially with the Rams holding a five-game winning streak against Denver. The Rams are favored by 1.5 points, but they are going into Empower Field at Mile High without wide receiver Puka Nacua, who’s listed as doubtful with a hip injury. Good news for them, J.K. Dobbins has no injury designation.
The Expert With the Insane Betting Streak
When someone is picking games with this much confidence, you gotta listen. Larry Hartstein isn’t some rookie; he’s a former lead writer for Covers and The Linemakers, pulling insights from a massive network of Vegas sources and an analytical game honed at Pro Football Focus. His record speaks for itself: a crushing 50-37 ATS (57.5%) during the 2025 NFL season, and an all-time 643-555 ATS. He’s nailed nearly 70 percent of his straight-up picks for office pools over the last two seasons. The real kicker? He’s on a staggering 28-10 run on his last 38 picks involving the Rams. That accuracy alone would have put $1,701 back in the pocket of $100 players.
Why the Under Is the Smart Bet
So, why is Hartstein so dialed in on the Under 44? It’s about those defenses, plain and simple. Both squads are sporting elite units, and the numbers back it up. Last season in 2025, Denver’s defense was an absolute brick wall, allowing the second-fewest yards per game in the entire league, giving up just 278.2. That’s suffocating. And this season? The Under has already hit in every single game these two teams have played. That’s a combined 4-0 record on the Under for the Rams and Broncos. Every single game. With two teams playing like that, especially after Nacua’s injury for the Rams, points are gonna be hard to come by. This isn’t some shootout.
This ‘Sunday Night Football’ matchup at 8:20 p.m. ET is shaping up to be a defensive slugfest. With the Rams trying to extend their streak against the Broncos and Denver looking for that Super Bowl breakthrough, every possession is going to count. Will Hartstein’s Under pick prove correct, or can one of these offenses find a way to break through? Get ready for some hard-hitting football, because it looks like points will be a premium.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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