49ers vs. Rams Odds, Props, Predictions: San Francisco a Big Road Choice Over LA
How to Watch 49ers vs. Rams
Date: Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023
Kickoff: 4:05 p.m. EDT
Location: SoFi Stadium — Inglewood, CA
Where to Watch: Fox
Two teams that had rousing road victories in Week 1 of the NFL season last week will tangle Sunday afternoon when the San Francisco 49ers travel to face the host Los Angeles Rams in a key NFC West game.
The Rams, coming off an injury-ravaged 5-12 season a year after winning the Super Bowl, just earned a 30-13 opening victory over Seattle as a 4-point dog. LA quarterback Matt Stafford threw for 334 yards despite being without his favorite receiver, and the Rams held the Seahawks to 180 yards of total offense.
Even in LA's title season coach Sean McVay's club never yielded so few yards. Stafford wasn't sacked on 38 drop-backs, either.
The 49ers, meanwhile, had an even more dominating triumph as a 1-point favorite last Sunday in thrashing the host Steelers 30-7 behind second-year QB Brock Purdy. It was the most lopsided home loss in the 17-year reign of Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin.
San Francisco has won eight of nine meetings over the past four seasons in the 49ers-Rams rivalry, including six as an underdog.
However, the game that was by far the most important resulted in a 20-17 win by the host Rams in the 2021 NFC championship game. LA rallied from a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to prevail en route to the championship.
NFL Season Odds: 49ers vs. Rams Spread, Moneyline & Total
The 49ers were listed as a 5-point choice for this game when odds were posted by the Westgate SuperBook this spring, but San Francisco now is favored by 7 to 7.5 points at most of the major sportsbooks, including DraftKings, FanDuel, PointsBet, BetMGM and BetRivers.
That makes the 49ers the heaviest road favorite this season. But, of course, there are no guarantees of victory. The last time the 49ers were a bigger choice against the Rams came in 2014 as a 10-point home pick. The Rams, then based in St. Louis, won 13-10.
The Over/Under for Sunday's game ranges from 44.5 to 45 points. And as of Friday afternoon, the 49ers were available on the moneyline at -300 with the Rams at +280.
Bettors taking the under have profited in 12 of 17 games this season.
Here are current odds from top US sports betting apps. It’s always recommended to shop around various sportsbooks to find the best bet prices and take advantage of multiple sportsbook bonuses.
49ers vs. Rams Injuries
The key missing piece for Los Angeles will be veteran WR Cooper Kupp, the only player to win the receiving triple crown the past 17 seasons when in 2021 he led the league in catches (145), yards (1,947) and TDs receptions (16).
He is on injured reserve with a hamstring injury to start the season.
One of Kupp's replacements, rookie Puka Nacua, also is ailing. He didn't participate in drills on Wednesday or Thursday with an oblique injury. Last week he caught 10 of 15 targeted throws from Stafford for 119 yards.
Offensive left tackle Joe Noteboom, who replaced retired two-time All-Pro Andrew Whitworth last season, is dealing with a hip injury. He was listed as limited in practice Wednesday but as a full participant Thursday.
As for the 49ers, linebacker Dre Greenlaw is questionable with a groin injury suffered in the victory over Pittsburgh. He's one of the anchors of San Francisco's defense that ranked No. 1 last year. He was second on the team in the 2022 regular season with 127 tackles despite missing two games. He was limited on Thursday.
And then there's OLT Trent Williams, an All-Pro the past two seasons. Against Pittsburgh, he seemed to suffer an injury to his right side that caused him to head to the sideline. But he returned quickly and isn't listed on the injury report.
Star TE George Kittle was listed as having a groin injury but was a full-go in drills, as was WR Ray-Ray McCloud (wrist).
49ers vs. Rams Props
Here are some other interesting ways to bet on Sunday afternoon's game:
Anytime Touchdown Scorer (FanDuel)
49ers RB Christian McCaffrey: -130
49ers WR Deebo Samuel: +200
49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk: +240
49ers TE George Kittle: +270
49ers QB Brock Purdy: +450
49ers defense: +500
Rams RB Kyren Williams: +650
Rams RB Cam Akers: +700
Rams WR Puka Nacua: +700
Rams WR Van Jefferson: +700
Rams defense: +1300
Spread & Over/Under Combo Winners (FanDuel)
49ers -8.5/Over 43.5: +260
49ers -8.5/Under 43.5: +370
Rams +8.5/Over 43.5: +195
Rams +8.5/Under 43.5: +270
Alternate Point Spreads (BetMGM)
49ers -18.5: +300
Rams +18.5: -450
49ers -14.8: +185
Rams +14.5: -250
49ers -10.5: +120
Rams +10.5: -155
49ers -6.5: -150
Rams +6.5: +115
49ers -3.5: -225
Rams +3.5: +165
49ers +2.5: -450
Rams -2.5: +310
49ers +7.5: -1600
Rams -7.5: +725
49ers vs. Rams Stats, Analysis and Prediction
The 49ers, as mentioned, had the top-ranked defense last season and will be lining up against a team with the league's worst-ranked offense in 2022. The Rams' woes were in large part the result of season-ending injuries that cost Stafford and Kupp eight games apiece.
And on defense, three-time Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald missed six games due to injury.
Although Stafford is back, he had to work primarily with two unheralded receivers last week while Kupp recuperates. But those new WRs, Nacua and Tutu Atwell, had 119 receiving yards. Not bad.
But in the running game, the Rams were borderline bad. They rushed 40 times last week in Seattle and gained only 92 yards for a norm of 2.1 a carry. By comparison, the LA Chargers and Cleveland also ran 40 times Sunday, and both cleared 200 yards.
To compound its woes LA will be facing a rush defense that allowed the Steelers only 41 yards on 10 carries. Pittsburgh didn't even try to work its offense on the ground to try to quell a 49ers pass rush that totaled five sacks -- and recently signed 2022 Defensive Player of the Year Nick Bosa didn't have any.
Stafford knows all about that pass rush, which got to him seven times in a Week 4 loss last season.
And unlike the Rams, the 49ers are at full strength on offense with standout RB Christian McCaffrey having a league Week 1-high 152 ground yards and fourth-year WR Brandon Aiyuk having a a career day by catching all eight targeted throws from Purdy for 129 yards and two scores.
Purdy, who has yet to face the Rams, has a record of 8-1 as a starting QB since taking over for injured and since-departed Jimmy Garoppolo late last season. The only loss came in the NFC title game in Philadelphia when he tore the UCL in his passing elbow early in the outing. He sure seemed OK last week.
Anyhow, it appears it will be hard for the Rams to keep up.
Prediction: 49ers giving the points and the over
