San Francisco 49ers vs Los Angeles Rams Prediction & Best Bet: Will the Rams Wrap Up NFC West and Destroy Niners’ Postseason Hopes?

Entering the NFL season, the NFC West was expected to come down to the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams.

Well, the Rams and 49ers will indeed decide it, though only the Rams are in contention for the division title. With a win, the Rams will wrap up the division ahead of the Arizona Cardinals and the #2 seed in the NFC regardless of what happens elsewhere.

As for the 49ers, they need a win or a loss by the New Orleans Saints to secure a playoff berth. The Niners have done well to overcome a 3-5 start, winning six of their past eight games. But their improvement will be for nothing if they don’t reach the postseason.

San Francisco 49ers vs Los Angeles Rams Matchup Info and Betting Odds

Matchup Information

• Game Matchup: San Francisco 49ers (9-7) vs Los Angeles Rams (12-4)
• Venue & Location: SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, California)
• Date: Sunday, January 9, 2022
• Time: 4:25 p.m. ET
• TV: FOX

Betting Odds

• Spread: San Francisco 49ers +3.5 (-110), Los Angeles Rams -3.5 (-110)
• Total: OVER 45 (-110), UNDER 45 (-110)
• Moneyline: San Francisco 49ers +155, Los Angeles Rams -185

Odds are from BetMGM.

San Francisco 49ers vs Los Angeles Rams Betting Outlook

San Francisco got an easy win last week as they beat up Houston. This team has been up and down all season and it feels right that they need one more win to reach the playoffs.

The 49ers did beat the Rams 31-10 when they met in Week 10. That was with Jimmy Garoppolo taking the snaps at quarterback, and he is slated to in the finale after missing last week’s game due to a thumb injury. Rookie Trey Lance started against the Texans and will be ready to play against the Rams if called upon. Against the Texans, he was 16 of 23 for 249 yards and two touchdowns (and an interception), and he ran for 31 yards on eight credited attempts.

The Rams have taken a lot of heat, but they have only lost four times all season long. It just feels like more, doesn’t it? They were in a hole due to the Cardinals’ great start, but they have picked up their game and are poised for a division title.

The top seed in the NFC is off the table for the Rams with the Packers already locked in there. Will that affect how they approach this game?

San Francisco 49ers vs Los Angeles Rams Prediction and Best Bet

Los Angeles Rams 27, San Francisco 49ers 20 (Los Angeles Rams -4.5)

In their earlier meeting, the 49ers got efficient quarterback play and Matt Stafford struggled for the Rams. With Stafford playing well now and there still being some value in a win for L.A. I am expecting a good game from the Rams offense.

People love to pile on Stafford for his miscues, but the numbers also show he is the best quarterback in the NFL in the second half of games this season. He still has to prove it in the playoffs, but the narrative about being unable to cut it is overblown.

Jimmy G’s thumb is something to watch out for in this one. He wouldn’t start if he wasn’t ready to, but it will be interesting to see if it has any impact on his performance. If he struggles at all, you imagine that Kyle Shanahan will not hesitate to put Lance in.

In the end, whether it is Garoppolo or Lance, the 49ers will not be able to put enough points on the board to win their way in. If they are going to get in, it will have to be through the back door.