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The San Francisco 49ers will take on the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship. It's time to continue our NFL odds series and make a 49ers-Rams prediction and pick.
What a matchup this is. It doesn't get much better than NFC West rivals facing off for a chance to play in the Super Bowl. The Niners are coming fresh off of a huge road upset against the Green Bay Packers, and now they face their divisional foe on the road again. San Francisco has to be thinking about the history between these teams, as head coach Kyle Shanahan's squad has won their last six matchups against Los Angeles. The Rams certainly have the losing streak on their minds, but their confidence is surely high after an incredible win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
For more insight on NFC Championship matchup between the 49ers and Rams, listen below:
This epic rematch has the potential to be one of the most exciting games of the season, so let's get into the pick.
Here are the 49ers-Rams NFL odds, courtesy of FanDuel.
NFL Odds: 49ers-Rams Odds
San Francisco 49ers: +3.5 (-114)
Los Angeles Rams: -3.5 (-106)
Over: 45.5 (-114)
Under: 45.5 (-106)
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Why The 49ers Could Cover The Spread
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The Niners have shown that they can win games in a variety of ways, and that's exactly what it takes to beat the Rams. The first time these teams met, San Francisco had a field day running the football and playing an extremely physical brand of football. The next time they played, the Niners counted on quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo to lead them to a comeback win. They pretty much won a playoff game only on special teams and defense against the Packers. That versatility is the key to playing against a Rams defense that doesn't have many weaknesses.
San Francisco's defensive line will play a key role in this matchup. The first time these teams played, Rams' quarterback Matthew Stafford was under constant pressure. That game ended in a blowout win for the Niners. The second time they played, the defensive line played a fantastic second half, allowing San Francisco to come back. In last week's game against the Buccaneers, Los Angeles nearly choked a huge lead because of the constant harassment from Tampa Bay's pass-rushers. Four-man pressure is the key to taking apart this Rams' offense, and the Niners have already shown they can be successful using that blueprint.
Why The Rams Could Cover The Spread
Much like the 49ers, the Rams will be counting on their defense in this matchup. If Los Angeles allows the 49ers to run the ball at will, San Francisco will win this game. Luckily, the Rams are one of the best run defenses in all of football. They only allow 103 rushing yards per game and four yards per carry. Forcing the Niners to pass the ball will lead to a Rams victory, as Garoppolo hasn't been particularly good. He's thrown two picks and zero touchdowns this postseason, and the Rams certainly have the ability to make that stat line even worse.
There is an immense amount of pressure on Matthew Stafford here, but he's shown that he can handle it. The Rams will likely be unable to run the football here, which means the game will be in Stafford's hands. That's a pretty good thing, especially considering how poor the 49ers have been against the pass. San Francisco allows opposing quarterbacks to complete 68% of their passes for nearly seven yards per attempt. They would allow more yardage per game, but they only face 32 pass attempts per game, one of the lowest numbers in the league. Cornerbacks Emmanuel Moseley, Ambry Thomas, and K'Waun Williams will be asked to match up with the deadly Los Angeles receivers, which gives the Rams an even bigger advantage.
Final 49ers-Rams Prediction & Pick
This game will be an incredibly close one. More than a field goal is just asking too much of this Rams team. Lock in San Francisco here.
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Final 49ers-Rams Prediction & Pick: San Francisco 49ers: +3.5 (-110)
