Los Angeles Rams at San Francisco 49ers Odds & Game Pick
A pair of NFC West rivals take center stage this week on Sunday Night Football as the Los Angeles Rams travel up the California coast to battle the San Francisco 49ers. The two teams seem to be trending in opposite directions through the first five weeks of the season, with the Rams sitting at 4-1 and the injury-plagued 49ers at 2-3. The stakes will be high in primetime as both teams look to gain a much-needed divisional win.
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Details
- Opening Lines: 49ers -3; O/U 49
- Current ATS Line: Rams -3
- Current Over/Under: 51.5
- Location: Levi’s Stadium – Santa Clara, CA
- Start Time: 8:20 p.m. EST
- Television: NBC
- Last Meeting: December 21, 2019 – The 49ers defeated the Rams 34-31 in Santa Clara.
- Attendance: No in-person attendance allowed
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LAR
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-3
-110
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o51.5
-110
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-154
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SF
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+3
-110
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u51.5
-110
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+130
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View consensus picks from top betting experts for the Rams vs. 49ers >>
Overview
The Rams have certainly looked like a better football team through five weeks this season than they did during last year’s campaign. It all starts with improved play along the offensive line. This has enabled the running game to find its footing, regardless of which back has been featured on any given week. When the running game is working, Sean McVay’s playbook is wide open. With Jared Goff playing well and the usual bevy of receiving targets at his disposal, there’s a real chance Los Angeles is able to pick apart the cover-3 defense of the 49ers on Sunday.
San Francisco has been battling numerous injuries on both sides of the ball. On the bright side, the offense is finally healthy. It was an ugly return for Jimmy Garoppolo last week, but it seems logical to expect a rebound. He is helped by having a full complement of weapons at his disposal now as well with both Deebo Samuel and Raheem Mostert fully healthy. Of course, the 49ers line will have to withstand the onslaught of Aaron Donald and the rest of the L.A. pass rushers.
Trends
- Rams 2020 Betting Trends: 3-2 ATS; 2-3 to the Over
- 49ers 2020 Betting Trends: 2-3 ATS; 3-2 to the Over
- The Rams are 3-1 ATS in the last four head-to-head meetings against the 49ers.
- Road teams are 4-1 ATS in the last five head-to-head meetings between the Rams and 49ers.
- Five of the last seven head-to-head meetings between the Rams and 49ers have gone over the total.
Prop Bet
Cooper Kupp and George Kittle both to record 80+ receiving yards: Yes (+475 at BetMGM)
I expect both teams to find success in working the middle of the field with their respective passing attacks. For the Rams, this means plenty of Cooper Kupp working out of the slot. The allusive receiver is a favorite target of Jared Goff’s and has already surpassed 80 yards receiving twice this season while recording more than 65 yards in two other games as well. A virtual lock to receive 7-8 targets every game, Kupp should be able to find plenty of seams against the leaky 49ers secondary. Statistically, George Kittle might have the rougher go of it given that the Rams rank third in adjusted defensive efficiency against the pass. But this is George Kittle, after all. After missing two games to injury, Kittle has come back with a vengeance, netting 15 and 8 targets in the last two games. Kittle is going to need to produce for the 49ers to have a shot, and I like both players to enjoy success this week.
Bottom Line
The movement on this line has been incredible, to say the least. Just a year removed from being champions of the NFC, the 49ers have been all but left for dead after last week’s blowout loss to the Miami Dolphins. San Francisco opened as a 3-point favorite. Not only have the Rams taken money and been moved through a pick, but Los Angeles has been bet all the way up to (and at some shops through) the key number of 3 on their side. In fact, there has been a touch of buyback on San Francisco to the current line of 3 after it sat at 3.5 across the board during the middle part of the week.
To me, the 49ers have to be the play here. A line move through the key number on both sides of 0 is rarely ever seen. As bad as San Fran has looked recently, this is a must-win spot at home. Divisional games are typically tightly contested affairs and this rivalry has been no exception over the year. It makes sense to use the current market perception of the 49ers to your advantage and capitalize on a contrarian buy-low spot.
Pick: 49ers +3 (-110 at BetMGM)
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Henry John is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Henry, check out his archive and follow him @HankTimeSports.