49ers vs Rams Prediction, Betting Odds, and Our Best Bet for Thursday Night Football

The San Francisco 49ers head south to take on the Los Angeles Rams for Thursday Night Football. It’s a battle of 3-1 teams, but we don’t think that record tells the whole story. The Rams appear to be clicking on both sides of the ball, while the 49ers are limping into this game after a home loss and with QB concerns.

With the kickoff set for tomorrow night at SoFi Stadium, this one could go a long way in shaping the NFC West.

Game Details and Betting Odds

The Rams come in as 8.5-point favorites, with the over/under set at 46.5 total points. On the moneyline, Los Angeles is listed at -298, while San Francisco sits at +240.

Bookmakers are clearly getting the same feelings we are about this one by backing the Rams, and it’s not hard to see why. L.A. is 2-0 at home this season and has looked like a more complete team, especially on offense. Meanwhile, the 49ers are dealing with a few key injuries and inconsistency, particularly on offense.

The betting market has leaned toward Los Angeles all week, with the line holding strong above a TD.

Rams Firing on All Cylinders, 49ers Fighting for Identity

The Rams’ offense is running like an absolute machine. Matthew Stafford has thrown for 1,114 yards, with 8 TDs and just 2 INTs. That kind of production has them ranked 13th in scoring with 25.0 PPG and 4th in total offensive yards per game with 388.3. Even more impressive is that they’re doing it without relying on just one star.

Puka Nacua continues to be a top-tier threat, posting 503 receiving yards on 42 catches and a touchdown. He’s been Stafford’s go-to guy when the play breaks down, and he’s winning one-on-one battles consistently. In the backfield, Kyren Williams has become a workhorse, logging 303 rushing yards and helping the Rams control the tempo. This dual threat keeps defenses on their toes.

Defensively, L.A. is getting the job done with pressure and timely takeaways. They’ve racked up 14 sacks already, led by Byron Young’s 5, the most in the NFL, and they’ve forced 3 interceptions. That pressure up front has been critical in closing out games, including their most recent 27-20 win over the Colts just last week.

On the other side of the field, the 49ers are a bit of a mystery. Brock Purdy, who is currently questionable for the game due to his lingering toe problems, has had a shaky start to the season with 4 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. He’s thrown for 586 yards, but the turnovers are becoming a concern, especially against a defense that’s known for forcing mistakes. He’s already missed 2 weeks and is listed as questionable for this week, but we have a feeling he’s going to get the start.

The ground game is still led by Christian McCaffrey, who’s averaging just 3.3 yards per carry with 225 rushing yards through 4 games. Those numbers highlight his age compared to other RB1s in the league. But San Francisco ranks just 28th in rushing yards per game, and if Purdy isn’t at full strength—or can’t go—it puts even more pressure on McCaffrey and the short passing game.

On defense, the 49ers are still solid, giving up just 18.8 points per game, but they’re not creating big turnovers. In fact, they have 0 interceptions and just 5 total sacks on the season, which ranks near the bottom of the league. That lack of disruption is a red flag against a Rams offense that thrives on rhythm and tempo.

Stat Matchups That Matter

Looking at the team comparison, the Rams are outperforming San Francisco in just about every major offensive category. They’re averaging more points, more total yards, and they’re fairly efficient on 3rd down, converting 40.4% of the time compared to the 49ers’ 48.1% — though San Francisco has the slight edge there.

Defensively, both teams are solid, but again, the Rams have been more opportunistic. They’re allowing just 20.3 PPG and have 3 takeaways through 4 games. The 49ers, despite allowing slightly fewer points at 18.8 per game, haven’t generated any turnovers and have been soft in pass rush situations.

Time of possession and game control also lean slightly to the 49ers, who hold the ball for 30+ minutes per game. That said, they haven’t been able to convert that control into explosive plays or consistent scoring drives.

Prediction — Rams Too Balanced, Too Deep

The 49ers have shown they can win ugly games, but they’re going to need more than just a little grit to keep up with the Rams for TNF.

If Brock Purdy doesn’t play or is even limited in what he can do, that tilts the matchup heavily in L.A.’s favor. Even with him, the Rams’ offense is simply too dynamic, and their pass rush is a real problem for a 49ers offensive line that hasn’t protected well in obvious passing situations. The 49ers’ offensive line will need to be almost perfect against one of the best pass rushes, and we just don’t see that happening.

The Rams are the more complete team right now. They’ve got momentum, home-field advantage, and better play at QB and WR. Unless the 49ers can suddenly generate turnovers and hit big plays, it’s hard to see them keeping this one close for 4 quarters.

• Rams vs 49ers Prediction: Rams 27, 49ers 17
• Best Bet: Rams -8.5

The spread is wide, but the fact is that the Rams have the firepower to cover. They’ve been winning by an average margin of 8.7 points this season and are 3-1 against the spread. We’re looking for them to pull away in the second half, especially if the 49ers’ offense sputters and struggles to build any momentum.

If you’re looking for a decent player prop, take Kyren Williams for an anytime touchdown. He’s getting the carries and the yardage to put this prop in the bag. Given the fact that the 49ers are in the bottom half of the league when it comes to allowing rushing yards, you can bet he’ll be a big part of the game script for tomorrow’s game.