Rams vs. 49ers: Betting odds, lines, picks against the spread

Rams vs. 49ers: Betting odds, lines and picks against the spread

Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp makes a catch in pregame warmups before a win over the Arizona Cardinals.

By Adam BurkeVSIN.com

Oct. 2, 2022 5 AM PT

The Rams have a massive NFC West matchup on Monday Night Football against the 49ers. Here’s a look at the game from a betting perspective.

Rams at San Francisco 49ers (-1½, 42½)

It wasn’t pretty for either of these teams last week, but one won and the other didn’t, which means that the Rams have the chance to open a two-game lead in the NFC West with an MNF victory over their rivals. Lost in L.A.’s 20-12 win over the Cardinals is that the Rams averaged 7.4 yards per play, so they moved the ball very effectively. They also failed to cash in on two of their three red-zone trips and went three-of-eight on third down.

The Cardinals ran 81 plays to just 46 for the Rams, who allowed Arizona to convert four out of five fourth-down attempts and stay on the field for nearly 34 minutes of game play.

At the end of the day, it was a win for the Rams and one in which Cooper Kupp didn’t have to be the star of the show all by himself. In fact, Cam Akers had 12 carries for 61 yards and a touchdown, though he did fumble inside the five to place himself back in the doghouse a bit.

Call it a Super Bowl hangover if you want, but it has been a slow start to the season for the Rams. They’ve averaged only 5.3 yards per play and looked awful against the Bills. The game against the Falcons wound up too close for comfort and the win over the Cardinals was far from impressive. As a result, it is hard to like Los Angeles’ chances here.

The 49ers have already had to change course with the injury to Trey Lance, as safety net Jimmy Garoppolo took over for last week’s loss against the Broncos. The 49ers have averaged only 5.1 yards per play, but the defense has been the best in the league with 3.9 yards per play against and the highest pressure percentage in the league.

Given that Matthew Stafford already has five interceptions and nine sacks, the pressure he’s likely to receive here behind a disappointing offensive line is a real concern. This would appear to be another game ticketed for a low score, especially because the teams have combined to go 10-for-19 in the red zone.

Pick: Under 42½

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