Los Angeles Rams vs. San Francisco 49ers NFL Betting Odds, Picks, and Preview for NFC Championship Game
Los Angeles Rams vs. San Francisco 49ers NFL Betting Odds, Picks, and Preview for NFC Championship Game
For the third time this season, the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams are set to face off on Sunday. This time, however, a spot in the Super Bowl is at stake. After each pulling off NFL betting upsets last weekend, the two NFC West Division and in-state rivals will meet in the NFC Championship Game on Sunday night. Despite the 49ers getting the better of both regular-season meetings, the NFL odds favor the Rams playing at home in this trilogy matchup.Â
Rams vs. 49ers NFL Betting Odds, Picks, and Preview
NFL Postseason — NFC Championship Game
San Francisco 49ers (12-7 SU, 11-8 ATS) vs. Los Angeles Rams (14-5 SU, 10-9 ATS)
Date: Sunday, January 30, 2022
Start Time: 6:30 PM EST
Location: SoFi Stadium — Inglewood, CA
TV Coverage: FOX
Click Here for Rams vs 49ers NFC Championship Odds
San Francisco 49ers Preview
It was only three weeks ago that the 49ers came to SoFi Stadium needing to win just to make the NFL Postseason. Now, they are coming back one win away from reaching the Super Bowl for the third time in the last three years. Kyle Shanahan and the coaching staff deserve a ton of credit for turning around what was at one point a 3-5 season.Â
Offensively, the Niners were hard to watch last week in the Divisional Round against Green Bay. At least quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo won’t have to worry about frigid temperatures in the NFC Championship Game. This not only figures to boost his overall play but it should also be beneficial for the thumb and shoulder injuries that he is playing through. While the rushing game tandem of Elijah Mitchell and Deebo Samuel serves as the face of the 49ers’ offense, Garoppolo notably lit up the Rams’ secondary in Week 18 as well. Each of Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, and Jauan Jennings had over 90 yards receiving in that contest.
Defensively, the keys for the 49ers on Sunday figures to be the same as they have been all season long: stop the run and generate a pass rush. San Francisco ranks second in adjusted defensive efficiency against the run this season. A star-studded front seven that includes Nick Bosa, Arik Armstead, and Fred Warner was a constant presence in the Rams’ backfield in Week 18. They recorded five sacks which in turn aided the secondary in coverage. Four of the 49ers’ nine interceptions forced this season came in their two games against Los Angeles.
Los Angeles Rams Preview
Other than their Week 18 loss to San Francisco, the Rams have been perfect since the start of December. Winners in seven of their last eight games played, Los Angeles will now attempt to become the second team in as many seasons to play in the Super Bowl on their home field. Of course, the Rams had to survive quite the scare last week as they blew a massive lead before winning in the final minute against Tampa Bay in the Divisional Round.
Quarterback Matthew Stafford has certainly proven himself capable of delivering during these playoffs. He finished with 366 yards passing in last week’s win. Of course, none of his production was as significant as the two throws he made to star receiver Cooper Kupp on the final drive. The Rams needed every bit of Kupp’s 180-yard day as they struggled mightily to run the ball. It could be more of the same in the NFC title game against the sturdy San Francisco run defense. After Cam Akers was responsible for two of the team’s four fumbles last week, it will be interesting to see whether or not Sean McVay sticks with him as the workhorse back.
Defensively, L.A. played a much better game last week than the final score indicated. However, the Niners certainly gave Aaron Donald and the unit problems during the regular season. The 49ers converted 9 of 14 third downs in their Week 18 comeback win. A similar percentage would be disastrous for the Rams’ Super Bowl aspirations.
Rams vs. 49ers NFL Playoffs Betting Odds and Line Movement
The following table displays the best 49ers vs. Rams NFL betting odds for the NFC Championship Game available in the market.
| Team | Moneyline | ML Implied Probability | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 49ers | +155 | 39.2% | +3.5 (-110) | O 45.5 (-110) |
| Rams | -175 | 63.6% | -3.5 (-105) | U 45.5 (-106) |
The point spread for the NFC Championship Game has come down one full point after opening at Rams -4.5. While an even -3 has popped up occasionally at some sportsbooks throughout the week, the line has predominantly stayed at -3.5. Meanwhile, the current total of 45.5 sits 1.5 points below the opening number of 47.Â
Overall, the ticket counts for this game have been quite even. While a clear majority of the public (65%) is backing the Rams on the moneyline to win the game outright, only 56% of spread bets are on the favorites. It is interesting to note that a slight majority (56%) of tickets are on the total to go over given that the line has moved in the opposite direction.
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Rams vs. 49ers NFL Betting Trends
- 49ers are 6-2 ATS in their last eight games.
- Rams are 5-0 SU and 4-1 ATS in their last five games.
- Rams are only 17-33 ATS in their last 50 games against opponents on a winning streak of three games or more.
- The total has gone UNDER in seven of the 49ers’ last eight road playoff games.
- 49ers are 5-1 both SU and ATS in their last six head-to-head matchups against the Rams.
Rams vs. 49ers NFL Betting Picks and Prediction
After squandering a 17-0 lead to the 49ers just three weeks ago, the Rams will be out for revenge in the NFC Championship Game. That being said, it doesn’t figure to come easily. San Francisco plays the most old-school style of football of any team remaining in the postseason.Â
The Rams had a tough time stopping the run in both regular-season matchups between the teams. While the simple solution on Sunday would be to crowd the box, Jimmy Garoppolo also showed out in Week 18. When it comes to the matchup between the 49ers’ offense and Rams’ defense, both sides figure to achieve small victories within the overall game.
Where the Niners have the greatest advantage in this game is on defense. Particularly, the matchup between San Fran’s defensive front and L.A.’s offensive line could decide the outcome. If the 49ers are able to get pressure on Matthew Stafford as they did in the regular season, mistakes are bound to happen.Â
Considering that the spread sits at 3.5, bettors can feel comfortable about their ticket knowing that the 49ers could lose by a field goal margin and still cover. As for the total, under is the play. Both defenses are capable of making an impact. Add in the 49ers’ methodical tempo offensively and the added level of familiarity between these division rivals and it doesn’t seem logical to expect a full-blown shootout.
Rams vs. 49ers Picks
- 49ers +3.5 (-110) (Bet $110 to Win $100)
- Under 45.5 (-106) (Bet $106 to Win $100)
Henry has had a passion for sports that few can match for as long as he can remember. What started out as a five-year-old taking interest in the New York Jets and their green jerseys has since become a full-fledged career as a writer and sports betting analyst. His coverage primarily includes the NFL, MLB, NBA, NASCAR, college football, and college basketball. In 2020, he ranked among the top-10 most accurate experts ATS in the BettingPros NFL season contest. You can follow Henry’s sports work on Twitter and other social media platforms @HankTimeSports.