NFL betting: Rams look stellar but 49ers seem steady for matchup in Australia

On Thursday, the Melbourne Cricket Ground volition big the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams successful a large aboriginal play NFC West showdown.

Much has been made of however the teams handled the travel to Australia. The 49ers arrived a week early, hoping to acclimate to the clip portion alteration earlier kickoff. The Rams did not permission until Tuesday and are attempting to enactment person to their mean routine.

VSiN, The Sports Betting Network

There are tenable arguments for some approaches. Spending an extended play successful Australia mightiness dependable preferable, but galore doctors accidental it takes astir 17 days to afloat set the assemblage clock.

While the Rams’ attack mightiness look questionable, determination is immoderate logic down it. I’m not going to unreal to beryllium an adept connected the carnal readiness of either roster; some aesculapian staffs person surely enactment sizeable thought into the decision. I’ll absorption connected the shot matchup.

The Rams are wide viewed arsenic the NFL’s champion squad entering the season. They added Myles Garrett, who recorded 23 sacks past year, to a roster that was already susceptible of contending for a championship. Los Angeles besides brought backmost superstar Aaron Donald, who has not played since the 2023 season.

At immoderate point, Garrett and Donald could signifier a game-wrecking antiaircraft pairing. That volition beryllium particularly frightening considering however beardown the Rams already are offensively. However, we volition not spot them Thursday arsenic Donald did not question to Melbourne.

Even without Donald, the Rams are loaded. The Rams ranked 2nd successful the NFL successful violative EPA per play astatine 0.149 past season, portion tying for sixth successful antiaircraft EPA allowed per play astatine -0.051. (EPA an precocious shot analytics metric that measures however galore points an discourtesy adds oregon loses connected mean during a play oregon bid of plays.)

The 49ers did not person that aforesaid balance. San Francisco ranked sixth successful violative EPA per play astatine 0.091 but finished 24th successful antiaircraft EPA allowed per play astatine 0.070.

A batch appears to favour the Rams, but I similar what San Francisco has assembled this season.

The defence got distant from the 49ers past year, but Nick Bosa is expected to play aft tearing his ACL past season. San Francisco besides traded for Osa Odighizuwa, a almighty antiaircraft tackle who should instantly fortify the front. There is simply a existent accidental the 49ers look dramatically improved connected that broadside of the ball.

The discourtesy should besides beryllium excellent. Brock Purdy, Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle are each back. The 49ers added a morganatic No. 1 receiver successful Mike Evans. This discourtesy has not had a existent extracurricular prima successful immoderate time. With Evans connected the perimeter, the 49ers should person 1 of the league’s much explosive passing attacks.

Of course, Garrett was not the Rams’ lone large addition. Los Angeles besides traded for prima cornerback Trent McDuffie and signed Jaylen Watson. The Rams could person 1 of the NFL’s amended secondaries this season.

Still, this is simply a hard spot successful which to spot Los Angeles defensively. Kyle Shanahan has not had overmuch caller occurrence against Sean McVay, but helium remains 1 of the league’s sharpest violative minds. More importantly, Shanahan has 1 of the healthiest 49ers teams we person seen successful rather immoderate time.

I expect San Francisco to determination the shot consistently and amusement that it belongs connected the aforesaid tract arsenic the Super Bowl favorites.

There is besides a utile betting inclination supporting the underdog. Teams catching betwixt 3.5 and 10 points are 61-31 against the dispersed successful Weeks 1 done 3 erstwhile they posted a completion percent of astatine slightest 64 percent the erstwhile season. That strategy is up 26.9 units with a 26.6 percent ROI.

49ers vs. Rams Player Props

Lean: Kyle Juszczyk Over 4.5 Receiving Yards (-120)

Juszczyk averaged 14.5 receiving yards per crippled against the Rams past season. He is simply a reliable pass-catching limb for a fullback and Shanahan tends to find ways to impact him erstwhile San Francisco has other mentation time.

Our OptaAI player-prop projections person Juszczyk finishing with 12.62 receiving yards successful this matchup. That represents a 35.5 percent borderline to the over, making it 1 of the fewer three-star assurance plays connected the prop projections page.

49ers vs. Rams Pick

San Francisco is 1 of the fewer teams with capable endowment to lucifer Los Angeles. The enactment question is besides notable: the Rams moved from -2½ to -3½ astatine Circa Sports, pushing the fig done a cardinal margin.

In a divisional matchup betwixt 2 high-level teams, I’ll instrumentality the points and anticipation this is decided by a tract extremity — particularly connected a neutral field. And if you store around, San Francisco +4 is available.

Bet: 49ers +4 (-110)