St. Louis Rams at Kansas City Chiefs in Preseason Game

The St. Louis Rams (3-13 SU, 5-11 ATS in 2007; 2-1 SU, 1-2 ATS in pre-season), winners of two straight pre-season games, will try to chalk up their third in a row on Thursday night as they go across the Show-Me State to take on the Kansas City Chiefs (4-12 SU, 7-8-1 ATS in 2007; 1-2 SU & ATS in pre-season) in the pre-season finale for both squads, scheduled to kick off at 8 PM ET at Arrowhead Stadium (natural turf) in Kansas City.

Thursday, August 28

BetUS NFL Betting Odds: KANSAS CITY -4, Total 34

NOTABLE STAT: Kansas City was 31st in NFL in scoring in '07 (14.1 ppg)

KEY NFL FOOTBALL BETTING TREND: Chiefs are 3-12 SU & ATS in last 15 in pre-season

In the BetUS NFL pre-season football betting odds, the Chiefs are listed as a four-point favorite (at even money), with the total posted at 34 points.

Here are some NFL football betting trends as they relate to this matchup (reflecting numbers going into the 2008 season):

* STL has lost 13 of its last 16 games SU

* STL has covered two of its last six games

* STL has covered two of its last eight road games

* STL has played six of its last eight road games UNDER the total

* KC has lost its last nine games SU

* KC has covered three of its last nine games

* KC has lost its last five home games SU

* KC has covered one of its last seven home games

* KC has played five of its last six home games OVER the total

Pre-Season trends:

* STL has covered three of its last 11 pre-season games

* KC has lost 12 of its last 15 pre-season games SU

* KC has covered three of its last 15 pre-season games

This game might not mean enough to the starters on the two rosters, but it is for something called the Governor's Cup. so perhaps the governor of Missouri will be interested.

These teams showed very different levels of offensive productivity last week. The Chiefs got less than a hundred yards both rushing and passing in getting shut out 24-0 by the Dolphins, while St. Louis rolled up 411 yards, easily their best total of the pre-season, in chalking up a 24-10 win over Baltimore.

Mark Bulger was crisp in the game against Baltimore, completing 18 of 25 passes for two TD's. But one of the big stories of the Rams' camp has been the emergence of Brock Berlin as somebody who can challenge for the third quarterback spot on the St. Louis roster. Berlin has been strong, completing 22 of 28 in the pre-season with a passer rating of 103.4. Berlin is getting another chance to show he can be useful; when he came out of high school, he was a highly-touted quarterback prospect who went to the University of Florida, then to Miami, after losing the QB job to Rex Grossman.

What we're trying to say is, don't be surprised if Berlin gets some substantial playing time, and he is throwing to receivers who are really fighting for a roster spot. Two of them are draft picks Donnie Avery and Keenan Burton, extremely talented rookies who were overlooked by many scouts.

All three of the Chiefs' QB's - Brodie Croyle, Tyler Thigpen and Damon Huard - were intercepted by Miami in the shutout loss. And Kansas City's offensive line allowed those quarterbacks to be sacked five times. It was embarrassing.