San Francisco 49ers vs Los Angeles Rams Picks, Odds, Predictions, and Player Props For Week 1
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San Francisco 49ers vs Los Angeles Rams Picks, Odds, Predictions, and Player Props For Week 1

With the 49ers and Rams kicking off Thursday Night Football in Australia, check out our predictions, picks, and player props for all the betting info you need before the game.

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The stars are out in the land down under, pitting the San Francisco 49ers and the Los Angeles Rams against each other to kick off Thursday Night Football. With injuries already rearing their ugly head over the 49ers, expect the Rams' revamped defense to get off to a hot start and hold them under their team total.

San Francisco 49ers vs Los Angeles Rams Betting Odds For Week 1

  • Spread: Rams -3.5 (-108, DraftKings)
  • Moneyline: Rams (-185, DraftKings)
  • Game Total: 48.5 (Over -105/Under -115, DraftKings)

When it comes to betting on the NFL, the margins for winning are razor thin—even more so when playing on a short week, let alone in another country. Prep time is slashed in half, forcing coaches to revert to a more conservative playbook, which makes it tougher to handicap.

While a trip to Australia would normally give the participants time to plan ahead, the Los Angeles Rams are doing the unthinkable, arriving 24 hours before kickoff in an attempt to avoid jet lag. It's a stunning revelation that is sure to throw a wrench into what we may see on offense.

Luckily for the Rams, their defense will be able to mask any form of regression, fielding a group that is expected to hover near the top of the board in Def DVOA and Success Rate. This immediately diverts my attention to the San Francisco 49ers team total, backing the under at 21.5 or higher.

Prediction & Pick For San Francisco 49ers vs Los Angeles Rams Week 1 Matchup

  • The Pick: 49ers Team Total u22.5 (-113, FanDuel)

While the acquisitions of Aaron Donald and Myles Garrett hogged the spotlight, Trent McDuffie has gone under the radar, giving the Rams a lockdown corner who is capable of neutralizing one side of the field. Joining McDuffie is Jaylen Watson, creating one of the more formidable duos on the back end.

Even with Donald sitting out this game, it’s tough to envision how opposing offensive lines are going to slow down the Rams with Garrett lining up at multiple positions, a future Hall of Famer who is capable of collapsing the pocket at a moment's notice. Double-teaming him puts you in jeopardy of getting beat on the opposite side, bringing in a high amount of Havoc to your backfield.

Even with Trent Williams anchoring one side of the line, the pressure on the opposite end will force Brock Purdy out of the pocket, making it difficult to connect with his pass catchers. McDuffie and Watson will also loom large on the back end, smothering Purdy’s passing lanes with their suffocating coverage.

When forced into early outs, the 49ers will struggle to get the ball back in quick order, lacking the production on defense that is needed to force the Rams into a hard stop. With their second level stretched out thin, Kyren Williams and Blake Corum will be able to take advantage of the wider running lanes in the middle, putting the Rams in a favorable position to convert on later downs. 

Best Player Prop Bet For San Francisco 49ers vs Los Angeles Rams 

Blake Corum - o36.5 Rushing Yards (-110, bet365)

When given the opportunity, Blake Corum has been more efficient than Kyren Williams with his carries, grading out better than his teammate in Yards Over Expected per Attempt. Not only has this led to a heavier workload, but it has also turned Corum into one of the more valuable handcuffs in fantasy.

Against the 49ers, Corum will be able to consistently gash their front seven, a group that has struggled to stop the run per their below-league-average marks in Def Run DVOA and Explosiveness. Puka Nacua and Davante Adams' presence on the outside will also force the 49ers to shade their outside linebackers, creating more space for Corum to exploit once he reaches the second level of the defense.

The Rams' quick turnaround will also force their offense to revert to a more conservative game plan, leading to an uptick in Corum’s total number of carries to help clear the over on his Rushing Yardage prop.

Players Mentioned in this Article

  1. Blake Corum
    BlakeCorum
    RBLARLAR
    PPG
    6.8
    Proj
    7.9

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