In the final iteration of the NFL regular season, the Rams (-9) are gearing up to welcome their NFC West nemesis San Francisco 49ers to Los Angeles. This late afternoon matchup is scheduled to start at 4:25 p.m. ET and FOX will televise the action.
San Francisco 49ers vs. Los Angeles Rams Betting Preview
In this Sunday NFC game, Los Angeles is tabbed as the heavy favorite and the team’s currently giving up 9 points. In order to take the home favorite, moneyline gamblers would currently need to spend $400 to win $100 back on the Rams (-400). The 49ers are getting +300 moneyline odds. Vegas has placed the over/under (O/U) at 50.5 points. On the surface it appears that this showdown should have some in-game betting possibilities.
The game’s total has not changed after it was set initially at 50.5. Having said that, the line opened at -11 and early action has swayed toward the 49ers.
The underwhelming 49ers are 5-10 against the spread (ATS) and have lost 7.7 units so far in 2018. The team’s posted an O/U mark of 8-7. The Rams are up 0.3 units this season. The team is 6-7-2 ATS and has an O/U record of 6-8-1.
The 49ers are an ugly 4-11 straight up (SU), including 1-4 SU against NFC West opponents. The Rams are 12-3 SU overall and 5-0 SU versus divisional foes.
The Niners are trying to bounce back after a 14-9 loss to Chicago in Week 16 where Nick Mullens completed 22 passes for 241 yards and one interception. Jeff Wilson Jr. (only 27 yards on 11 rushes) led the ground attack while George Kittle (seven receptions, 74 yards) and Kendrick Bourne (four catches, 73 yards) shared the receiving duties in the defeat.
Los Angeles just earned a 31-9 win over Arizona in Week 16. Jared Goff completed 19-of-24 passes for 216 yards and one touchdown. C.J. Anderson (167 yards on 20 rush attempts, one TD) and John Kelly (40 yards on 10 carries) spearheaded the running game while Robert Woods (six receptions, 89 yards, one TD) and Gerald Everett (five catches, 28 yards) led the pass-catching attack in the win.
In terms of offensive play-calling, each squad has a similar run-pass ratio on the season. San Francisco’s run the ball on 44.6 percent of its offensive possessions while Los Angeles has an overall rush percentage of 43.6. The 49ers have run for 118 yards per game (including 104 per game versus West opponents) and have six scores on the ground this year. The Rams are averaging 138 rushing yards per game (162 in conference) and have 22 total rush TDs.
It appears that the Rams could hold an edge in the trenches, since their offensive line has given up only 33 sacks while the D-line has registered 38 sacks. The 49ers O-line has allowed 45 sacks and their defense has generated only 37 sacks.
The Niners offensive scheme has averaged 264 yards in the air overall (280 per game versus conference opposition) and has 23 passing scores so far. The Rams have recorded 301 pass yards per contest (282.2 against NFC competition) and have 28 total pass TDs.
Defensively, San Francisco has allowed 111 rush yards and 249 pass yards per game. The Los Angeles defense has allowed 254.9 yards per game to opposing passers and 122.0 yards per game to opposing runners. The Rams are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 6.32 to opponents, while the 49ers have given up a 7.35 ANY/A.
Offensively, Mullens is up to 1,720 passing yards this season, and has connected on 63 percent of his 212 attempts with nine passing scores and seven interceptions. Mullens has a 6.70 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 6.54 over the last two games.
We expect the San Francisco offense to mix it up in this one. George Kittle, Matt Breida and Dante Pettis have combined to account for 351 total yards over the last two outings.
Jared Goff has completed 314-of-482 passes for 4,150 yards, 28 TDs and 11 INTs for Los Angeles. His ANY/A stands at 7.81 for the season and 6.07 over his last two games.
We’re expecting the Rams to control the game’s clock by getting the ball into the hands of their running backs. In addition to Robert Woods (1,121 receiving yards, six receiving TDs this season), C.J. Anderson (271 rush yards, one rush TD, one receiving TD) and Todd Gurley II (1,251 rush yards, 17 rush TDs, 580 receiving yards, four TDs) have brought significant production to the Los Angeles offense.
RELATED: Week 17 NFL Betting Odds and Predictions
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Notes
Team Betting Trends
The Los Angeles defense has sacked opposing QBs 38 times this season. San Francisco has produced 37 sacks.
The Los Angeles offense has lost seven fumbles in 2018 while San Francisco has let 11 get away.
The 49ers offense has registered 11 pass plays of 40 yards or more, while the Rams have put up nine such plays.
Both teams have allowed nine pass plays of 40+ yards. The San Francisco defense has given up 18 pass plays of 30+ yards while Los Angeles has given up 21 such plays.
The San Francisco offense has created 13 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Los Angeles has created 14 such runs.
The 49ers defense has allowed 11 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Rams have given up 14 such runs.
The O/U for Los Angeles’ last game was set at 44. The under cashed in that 31-9 triumph over Arizona.
Over its last three matches, Los Angeles is 1-2 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
In its last three matchups, San Francisco is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
The Over/Under for San Francisco’s last game was set at 44. The under cashed in the team’s 14-9 loss to Chicago.
San Francisco has averaged 3.2 yards per carry over its past three games and 3.4 over its last two.
Los Angeles has averaged 5.6 yards per carry over its last three outings and 5.9 over its past two.
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