Los Angeles Rams vs. San Francisco 49ers, 12/30/18 Week 17 Predictions

Rams vs. 49ers Spread Prediction

The Los Angeles Rams can wrap up a first-round bye with a victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday but they’re also laying double-digit points. Is there value in the road dog in this NFC West matchup?

Game Snapshot

331 San Francisco 49ers at 332 Los Angeles Rams

4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, December 30

Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California

Public Betting Trends

According to oddsmakers from online sports book BetNow.eu, the Rams are 10.5-point favorites to beat the 49ers. The total, meanwhile, sits at 48 points. As of this writing, 60% of the public betting tickets are on the Rams to cover the point spread.

San Francisco 49ers

Marquise Goodwin (calf) is out for Week 17 against the Rams. The Niners will be without Dante Pettis (knee), Matt Breida (ankle), Garrett Celek (concussion), and Goodwin in the team's regular season finale. Obviously thin in their receiving corps, San Francisco is expected to utilize Kendrick Bourne, Trent Taylor, and Richie James in three-wide sets, with George Kittle getting full run as he chases 99 yards to potentially notch the single-season yardage record for tight ends (1,327). Travis Kelce is currently ahead of Kittle with 1,274 yards.

Los Angeles Rams

Todd Gurley (knee) has been ruled out for Week 17 against the 49ers. This doesn't come as a surprise after Gurley didn't practice all week. The Rams are playing for the No. 2 seed, but getting Gurley takes precedence in a game they can win without him. C.J. Anderson will make another start in Gurley's place after rushing for 167 yards and a toouchdown in his LA debut. Gurley should be 100 percent for the playoffs.

NFL Betting Trends

San Francisco

The 49ers are 2-5 against the spread in their last seven road games and are 1-4 ATS in their last five games versus NFC West rivals.

Los Angeles

The Rams are 0-4-1 against the number in their last five home games.

Prediction

There’s some surface-level value with the 49ers, who have played relatively hard for Kyle Shanahan despite being out of playoff contention since September, essentially. That said, the Rams need this game to secure a bye next week and Jared Goff got back on track last week following weeks of poor play. Gurley being out hurts but C.J. Anderson looked rejuvenated last Sunday in Arizona and should be fine as a fill-in for another week. I’m laying the points with the team that needs the game.

NFL Week 17 Prediction: Los Angeles Rams -10.5