The big NFC West rivalry heats up in Week 15 as the Los Angeles Rams visit the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday Night Football and we’re seeing plenty of excitement and buzz for the bets.
Both teams are coming off some pretty high-scoring wins, and, as with most TNF games, this matchup will unquestionably deliver excitement.
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Game Odds: 49ers -3 +100
Total Over/Under: 48.5 -110
The 49ers are 3-point favorites coming into this game at home tonight, with a moneyline of -150 The Rams, on the other hand, sit at +125.
The over/under for total points is set at 48.5 which tells us that the bookmakers are thinking this should be a pretty explosive game with lots of scoring opportunities.
So far, the betting trends show public sentiment leaning heavily towards the Rams to cover the spread, with 76% of the bets on Los Angeles at +3. That doesn’t surprise us given the fact that they beat the dominant Buffalo Bills last week.
The Rams edged the 49ers, 27-24, in their earlier Week 3 meeting, but we think sweeping the season series won't be an easy task for them. San Francisco's defense has tightened up since then and they’re ranking 3rd in total yards allowed per game at just 298.5. That means the Rams are going to have to have a solid game script for tonight.
There is a bright spot for the Rams as the 49er's recent inconsistency leaves room for doubt.
The Rams' offense has really come alive in recent weeks.
Matthew Stafford threw for 320 yards and 2 touchdowns against Buffalo last week which is something nobody believed would happen.
Stafford’s connection with their breakout rookie Puka Nacua, who has 708 receiving yards on the season, is going to be a big deal if they want to continue dominating San Francisco.
But on the ground they’re looking good with Kyren Williams who continues to shine in the backfield, with 1,013 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns. The Rams are looking like a solid dual threat team despite their record not necessarily reflecting that.
Defensively, though, the Rams are a concern. They rank 27th in total yards allowed per game. They’re giving up an average of 366 yards which opens the door for opponents’ offenses to keep up. Against San Francisco’s balanced offense, we believe this could be a glaring issue that might tilt the game.
As for the 49ers, Brock Purdy has impressed. Sure, he’s not in the talks for MVP and nobody mentions him as a future HOF’er, but he’s throwing for 3,032 yards with 15 touchdowns this season. His efficiency was on full display last week against the Bears, completing 80% of his passes for 325 yards and notching the win. TE George Kittle has been one of his most prominent targets as he’s amassed 800 receiving yards and 8 touchdowns.
But, as we mentioned, the 49ers are not just about airing it out. On the ground, Isaac Guerendo provides a solid threat with his 5.7 yards per carry. That’s also considering the fact that McCaffrey is out again for this week.
San Francisco’s defense, bolstered by Nick Bosa (34 sacks this season), could be the deciding factor if he’s in. For now, he’s listed as questionable with his hip injury. Regardless, their ability to pressure Stafford and force turnovers will likely determine the outcome of this TNF matchup.
This game should come down to who makes fewer mistakes. Looking at both teams strengths and weaknesses, it’s apparent they’re both going to be competitive coming into tonight’s game.
The 49ers have the better overall defense, which should give them the edge at home. That’s even without Bosa, but if he’s in, they look unstoppable. We expect San Francisco to lean on their running game to take advantage of the Rams’ defensive vulnerabilities.
BettorsInsider Pick: 49ers -3
While the Rams have shown some resilience throughout the season, San Francisco’s superior defense and balanced attack make them the safer bet for the spread. The 49ers should cover the spread and solidify their playoff push with a win at home.