An NFC West matchup is set for ‘Thursday Night Football’ with the Los Angeles Rams hosting the San Francisco 49ers to kick off Week 5. Both teams are currently 3-1, placing them at the top of the division alongside the Seattle Seahawks, who defeated Arizona last week. The 49ers suffered their first defeat against the Jacksonville Jaguars, losing 26-21 at home, while the Rams recently handed the Indianapolis Colts their first loss with a score of 27-20.
Kickoff is scheduled for 8:15 p.m. ET at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. The Rams have a favorable recent record against the 49ers, winning the last three encounters. For this matchup, the latest odds have Los Angeles favored by 8.5 points, and the total points over/under is set at 43.5 after initially opening at 47.5. L.A. stands as a -457 favorite in the money line (betting $457 to win $100).
Before making your picks for the Rams vs. 49ers, check the projections from the SportsLine model.
Why the 49ers Can Cover
Christian McCaffrey has had a stellar season, leading the NFL with 100 touches and ranking third with 530 scrimmage yards. He has consistently performed well against the Rams, achieving at least 135 scrimmage yards in all four previous matchups with five total touchdowns.
Defensively, the 49ers rank in the top 10 for points allowed, yards allowed, third-down defense, and redzone defense, showing a significant improvement over last year.
Why the Rams Can Cover
At 37 years old, Matthew Stafford is having the best football season of his career, sporting a ratio of 19 touchdowns to 3 interceptions over his last 11 games. This could benefit from the 49ers’ recent struggles with interceptions, as they have not achieved one in 11 consecutive games.
The Rams have an impressive 8-2 record against the spread over their past ten games, showing they are well-prepared for divisional matchups.
How to Make Rams vs. 49ers Picks
Consider that the SportsLine model predicts a total of 46 points in this game, with a suggestion that one side of the spread occurs over 50% of the time. To find which side to back and more details, visit SportsLine now.
