The 49ers’ lackluster loss to the Falcons didn’t dissuade sports books from making them heavy favorites over the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday at Levi’s Stadium. San Francisco is favored by 6.5 points according to BetMGM.
It’s not a huge surprise considering the stakes for each team, and the fact the Rams are coming off an even worse loss than the one the 49ers had.
Saturday the home team will be looking to bounce back and stay in lockstep with Seattle ahead of their Week 17 showdown that’ll ultimately decide the NFC West.
The Rams, on the other hand, need a couple wins and some help to sneak into the playoffs. With LA coming off a 44-21 loss at Dallas, it’s easy to see how books would still favor San Francisco by more than a touchdown.
This is a gut-check game for the 49ers, who beat the Rams 20-7 in Week 6 down in Southern California. They can make a statement with a big home win and dash the Rams’ playoff hopes for good.
LA can play the role of spoiler to a division rival though, and they’ll get a version of the 49ers defense that isn’t nearly as dominant as the one they faced in Week 6.
The 49ers have probably earned the 6.5 points at home against an 8-6 Rams club, but Saturday’s game could easily be another nail-biter for San Francisco.