Take San Francisco. Bosa, Williams and Isaac Guerendo are all banged-up for the 49ers. This is on top of Christian McCaffrey already ruled out for the season with another devastating injury and yet, the 49ers are still favored? Why? Because they’re at home? I’m not buying it.
The Rams are coming off one of the biggest wins of any team in the NFL this season. They played nearly flawless offensively and while they allowed over 40 points on defense, the unit made enough plays to hand Josh Allen and Co. only their third loss of the season.
For that, I think this is a bad situation spot for the Rams. They’re flying high and now they have to turn around a play a divisional rival on a short week. A division rival, by the way, who released a lot of frustration on the Bears last week. If he Niners are still motivated, then they know they need to win tonight to keep any hope alive that they can still reach the playoffs. They’ve dropped two straight to the Rams, including a 27-24 loss in L.A. back in September.
I like the Niners to even the season series with the Rams and keep their slim playoff hopes alive.
Rams vs. 49ers NFL Prediction: San Francisco 49ers -2.5
A lot of the logic I used in last week’s Packers vs. Lions preview, which led me to (incorrectly) take the under also set the foundation for my 42-1 bet that hit. This serves as a reminder that there are countless moving pieces in these games. Just because one market misses doesn’t mean the overall handicapping process was off.
As always, I’ll break down how I see this matchup setting up for both teams so you can use the insights to guide your handicapping across all markets.
There are too many major injury concerns on the 49ers side for me to commit to either side right now, but here's what I'm thinking.
DE Nick Bosa, RB Isaac Guerendo and LB Dre Greenlaw are all questionable. If they're all ruled out, this line will likely move to 49ers -2. Leonard Floyd has stepped up with Bosa out, though, and I'm confident Kyle Shanahan can scheme any running back to success. Also, Greenlaw hasn't played yet this season, so he wouldn't be much of a loss.
If those three are all active, I expect the line to move to 49ers -3.5. I wish this was as simple as fading the Rams because they're have gone 2-5 against the 49ers with Matthew Stafford under center, but this will be the first time that Stafford has faced them with both Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua healthy.
I have the utmost respect for the key number of three and would be interested if we get away from that at some point on Thursday.
Goodfella
3* NHL - Wash
3* NFL - SF ML
Football Jesus LV
Pistons @ Celtics Over 226
Newworldinsiders
BIG 10 INSIDER: Iowa St -5
CHICAGO INSIDER: Islanders -190
BOSTON INSIDER: Pistons +14
NBA INSIDER: Kings OV 230
GREAT WEST INSIDER: Rams OV 47.5
Donnie Rightside
Player Prop Picks:
Brock Purdy OVER 1.5 TD PASSES -106
Deebo Samuel OVER 45.5 REC YARDS -114
Stephen Nover
2* 49ers -2.5
Dave Essler
3* Mia Heat
The Prez
4% 49ers
August Young
4* The Citadel/Campbell Over 134.5
4* Vancouver/Florida Over 5.5
IC
4* New Mexico State/Texas Under 140.5
Nick Menken
7* Pittsburgh Penguins -115
Smart Money Sports
2* Celtics -12.5
2* Rams +3
2* Under 49
Brandon Lang
100 Dime winner is the San Francisco 49ers
Bob Balfe
49ers -3 over Rams
49ers/Rams Over 48.5
Iowa State -5.5 over Iowa
For the fi rst time this season, the Rams will take the fi eld with
a winning record following Sunday night’s 44-42 slug-out win
over the Bills. With it, Los Angeles fi nds itself on the periphery
of the NFC playoffs, just one game from making the cutline, as
they have quietly won six of their last eight games since starting
the season at 1-4. Our problem is the cuffs, and the collars don’t
match as the MIDWEEK ALERT calls out the fact the Rams are
just 2-4 ITS (In The Stats) in those games, losing the stats by an
average -18.5 net yards per contest. Meanwhile, the host Niners
currently sit at No. 11 in the NFL playoff chase, knowing their
chance of making the playoffs is just 3% as you read this. It
increases to 56% should they win out, per the New York Times,
which means they will need a little help from their friends. It
slips to less than 1%, however, should they not win this game.
FYI: With 65 games remaining, there are about 37 quintillion
ways the NFL regular season could end. With the No. 11 Niners
– the No. 1 preseason Super Bowl choice - backs plated to the
wall, and 4-0 SUATS the past three seasons on Thursdays, and
the Rams just 1-6 SUATS in this series when coming off an ATS
win, we turn it over to our Well-Oiled Machine as it supplies
THE CLINCHER: NFL teams coming off a win in which they
scored and allowed 40 or more points in their last game
are 12-22 ATS, including 0-8 SU and 1-7 ATS when facing
an opponent coming off a win. by Playbook
Established in 1995,
Hot Forum Topics
