Rams vs. 49ers Injuries, Odds, Predictions for Thursday Night Football

Despite all the injuries the San Francisco 49ers have had to deal with this season, they are just one game under .500 with a chance to clinch second place in the NFC West with a win against the Los Angeles Rams Thursday evening. . Everything they want is still ahead of them.

The Niners don’t have any slippage room, though. After starting their de facto playoff run with a blowout win over the Bears last week, things are about to get a lot tougher. After the Rams, they face the Dolphins, Lions and Cardinals. The 49ers probably need all four to get back into the playoffs.

But first, they must secure a victory over Los Angeles. The Rams have an easier schedule down the stretch and already beat San Francisco in Week 3, so they’re not as desperate. They are also coming off an exciting, confidence-building victory against the Bills. So, even if the Niners are favored by 3 points at home, no one would be surprised to see the Rams win.

San Francisco will potentially be shorthanded in its attempt to match Los Angeles’ offense, as Isaac Guerendo is just the latest Niners running back to suffer an injury. There is some good news on that front, however, as ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Guerendo plans to play.

Even without Guerendo, the Niners have a good chance of moving the ball against a Rams defense that gives up the sixth-most yards per game in the NFL and the fifth-most on the ground. This is where the Niners are confident they can take care of business. If Guerendo can’t go, the Niners will likely rely on some combination of Patrick Taylor Jr., Ke’Shawn Vaughn and Israel Abanikanda to compliment Brock Purdy and the passing attack. They should have some success.

Betting shares

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Spread: 52% of Rams bets / 58% of 49ers bets

Money line: 79% of Rams bets / 67% of Rams bets

Total: 73% of over bets / 65% of over bets

Injuries

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Rams

Absent: CB Cobie Durant (chest), TE Tyler Higbee (knee)

Questionable: TE Davis Allen (shoulder), DE Tyler Davis (calf), T Alaric Jackson (knee), C Beaux Limmer (knee), WR Demarcus Robinson (shoulder), WR Jordan Whittington (shoulder)

49ers

Absent: OL Ben Bartch (ankle), S Malik Mustapha (shoulder), LT Trent Williams (ankle)

Questionable: DE Nick Bosa (hip, oblique), DT Khalil Davis (knee), LB Dre Greenlaw (Achilles), RB Isaac Guerendo (foot)

The prince’s choice

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Rams +3

I expect the 49ers to win, but I just can’t imagine leaving that many points on the table against the Rams with the way their offense is going right now. Even knowing that San Francisco’s defense, while not as good as in the past, is much better than Buffalo’s.

No, I don’t expect the Rams to score 44 points again, but between Matthew Stafford, Puka Nacua, Cooper Kupp and Kyren Williams, they will move the ball and score points.

Prince’s accessory

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George Kittle Over 4.5 receptions

With all of San Francisco’s back injuries, I expect them to utilize the short passing game as part of their rushing attack and that should include quick throws to the tight end. Kittle averages five catches per game and has at least six catches in four of his last six games.

Anytime TD scorer

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Deebo Samuel (+140)

Samuel is unhappy. Even after last week’s win, he found it necessary to tweet about how he wasn’t struggling this season, just not getting the ball enough. Kyle Shanahan said he wished Samuel had kept his issues in-house, but also said they wanted to give him the ball more. I expect to see this Thursday, and against the Rams secondary, Samuel will have a good chance to bring one of those hits home.

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