The San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams both won exciting games in the Divisional Round of the playoffs. San Francisco knocked off the No. 1 seed Green Bay Packers, while the Los Angeles Rams upset Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In this article, you’ll find the NFL odds along with our pick and 49ers vs. Rams prediction for the NFC Championship Game.
San Francisco 49ers vs. Los Angeles Rams pick, prediction | Conference Championship
- Spread: Rams -3.5 (Odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook)
- Moneyline: 49ers +150, Rams -170
- Over/Under: 46.5
Jimmy Garoppolo’s mistakes
We’re at the point in the season where one key mistake could end a team’s run and eliminate them from the playoffs. Last week, Garoppolo threw a red-zone interception that nearly cost them the game against Green Bay.
One of the biggest keys in the Packers game is that he was lucky to end with only 1 interception. There were several passes that Green Bay could’ve capitalized on but didn’t. Indeed, multiple throws could’ve turned into potential pick-sixes.
[bet-bonus id=”164810″ ]Garoppolo’s been struggling as San Francisco consistently edges out their opponents. He’s thrown 6 interceptions over the last four weeks. It cost him a 3-point loss to the Tennessee Titans, although the 49ers were able to beat the Los Angeles Rams, Dallas Cowboys, and Packers in three consecutive must-win contests.
Still, it’s only a matter of time before those turnovers result in San Francisco losing a close game, similar to their matchup against Tennessee. Overall, Garoppolo’s thrown 14 interceptions in 17 games this season. He’s also fumbled 8 times, losing 3 of those. Garoppolo’s prone to mistakes, and it’s tough to believe he’ll continue to find wins if his pattern of making mistakes shows up Sunday.
49ers vs. Rams betting trends
These teams have found similar success against the spread (ATS) this season. San Francisco enters this game with an 11-8 ATS record, and they’re covering the spread by an average of 1.1 points per game. They’ve covered in nine of their last 11 games as well.
Los Angeles brings a 10-9 ATS record into this game, covering by an average of only 0.6 points per game. The Rams have covered in six of their last eight games. They’re one of only two teams in the NFL to cover in every game as an underdog (3-0) this season. They’ve covered by an average of 8.8 points per game in those contests.
These teams are opposites in respect to the game total. San Francisco’s hit the under in 57.9% of their matchups, while the Rams found the over in 55.6% of their contests this season.
49ers vs. Rams prediction
The 49ers have had the Rams’ number throughout this season. They’re 2-0 against them, including a 31-10 win in Week 10 and a comeback victory to make the playoffs in Week 18. The Rams are one of the best teams in the NFC, though, and the 49ers would need to complete the trifecta to advance to the Super Bowl. That feels highly unlikely in this case.
It’s difficult to watch Garoppolo consistently make mistakes on the field with San Francisco squeaking out wins. At some point in time, their quarterback play will catch up with them. The Rams have the offense to put points on the board against San Francisco, and they’re likely to win the most important matchup between the two teams this season.
49ers vs. Rams Prediction: Rams 24, 49ers 17