Among the late afternoon NFL betting matchups on Sunday is a critical NFC West Division game between the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams. It may be Week 18, but both sides have plenty to play for with respect to the NFC playoff picture. For the 49ers, an outright win will remove all doubt as far as making the postseason. Meanwhile, the Rams can lock up an NFC West Division title with a win. This 49ers vs Rams showdown is truly one of the most important games of the week. The NFL betting odds favor the home team. However, the majority of public NFL picks against the spread are on the road underdog.
The following 49ers vs Rams NFL betting preview will give you the current odds, betting trends and picks for the Week 18 matchup, along with a stream link to watch games all season long.
49ers vs Rams Week 18 NFL Betting Preview
NFL Regular Season — Week 18
San Francisco 49ers (9-7, 5-3 Away) vs. Los Angeles Rams (12-4, 5-2 Home)
Date: Sunday, Jan. 9, 2021
Time: 4:25 p.m. EST
Venue: SoFi Stadium — Inglewood, CA
Coverage: Click here for the stream
San Francisco 49ers Preview
The 49ers took care of business last week against the Houston Texans despite being without starting quarterback, Jimmy Garoppolo. Unfortunately, the results of other games prevented San Francisco from clinching a Wild Card berth in Week 17. After speculation that rookie QB Trey Lance may have to start this week’s critical NFL betting matchup, it has been reported that the veteran Garoppolo will lead the 49ers on Sunday. The development is huge, particularly for San Francisco’s passing game. Even with a thumb injury, Garoppolo poses a much greater passing threat than Lance at this stage in his career.
With that being said, it’s no secret that the 49ers would prefer to lean heavily on their run game regardless of who is under center. Rookie Elijah Mitchell returned from a multi-game absence last week and promptly rumbled for 119 yards in the win. Along with being one of the top targets, wideout Deebo Samuel continues to mix into the Niners’ ground game as well. Garoppolo will have all three of his top pass-catchers available on Sunday. That was not the case in the first NFL betting matchup between the teams this season as tight end George Kittle did not play. Brandon Aiyuk will also look to contribute after leading the team in receiving yards last week.
Los Angeles Rams Preview
While it wasn’t a pretty win by any stretch of the imagination, the Rams managed to pull out a one-point win over the Baltimore Ravens last week. Undefeated since the start of December, Los Angeles is now poised to lock up an NFC West Division title in Week 18. A win over the 49ers would be the sixth straight for the Rams and ensure a home playoff game next weekend. However, quarterback Matthew Stafford will likely need to be more efficient in order to get the job done. The Rams’ offseason trade acquisition has thrown five interceptions over the last two weeks combined. While he topped 300 yards in leading L.A. to the comeback victory last week, Stafford will need to cut down on the mistakes if the Rams hope to cover as NFL betting favorites.
Of course, the real star of the offense this season has been receiver Cooper Kupp. Last week, former Eastern Washington star added another 95 yards and a score to his incredible season totals. Meanwhile, midseason trade acquisition Odell Beckham Jr. has also emerged as a reliable weapon for Stafford in the red zone. Sony Michel has done a nice job leading the backfield in the wake of Darrel Henderson’s injury. There are also rumblings that Cam Akers may play this week for the first time all season after tearing his Achilles last summer. Defensively, the Rams are fourth in adjusted efficiency against the run. Can they make life difficult on the bruising 49ers ground game?
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49ers vs Rams Betting Odds and NFL Picks Against the Spread
NFL betting odds for 49ers vs Rams are taken from BetMGM Sportsbook.
Moneyline: SF: (+155) | LAR: (-185)
Spread: SF: +3.5 (-110) | LAR: -3.5 (-110)
Total: 45 — Over: (-110) | Under: (-110)
Public (Spread) Betting via Action Network: SF: (59%) | LAR: (41%)
49ers vs Rams NFL Betting Trends
- 49ers are 6-2 ATS in their last eight games.
- The total has gone under in four of the 49ers’ last five games.
- Rams are 5-0 straight up and 4-1 ATS in their last five games.
- Rams are just 1-9 ATS in their last 10 games when on a winning streak of four games or more.
- 49ers are 6-2 ATS in their last eight head-to-head matchups against the Rams on the road.
49ers vs Rams Stats
- San Francisco is averaging 25.0 points per game (PPG) this season (No. 13 in the NFL).
- San Francisco is surrendering 21.3 PPG this season (T-No. 13 in the NFL).
- Los Angeles is averaging 27.3 PPG this season (No. 9 in the NFL).
- Los Angeles is surrendering 21.6 PPG this season (No. 15 in the NFL).
49ers vs Rams Prediction
This 49ers vs Rams NFL betting prediction uses NumberFire’s game projections. They give Los Angeles a 56.6% chance to win this Week 18 matchup.
