49ers vs. Rams 2021 NFL Week 18 Odds, Analysis & Prediction

By Carlos Chacon • January 6, 2022

There’s a ton at stake in the regular-season finale between heated NFC West rivals the San Francisco 49ers and the Los Angeles Rams. The 49ers are in a win-and-in situation for the final wild card spot in the conference, whereas the Rams need a victory in order to capture the division title and avoid having to play their first-round postseason contest on the road.

Nitrobetting is ready to equip its bettors with all the latest previews and NFL betting odds for Week 18 of the 2021 NFL season. This time, we look at the all-too-important NFC West showdown between the San Francisco 49ers and the Los Angeles Rams. Find out more about the teams and the key players, event information, the latest NFL odds, and of course, helpful betting trends and expert betting predictions.

49ers vs. Rams Game Information

When: Sunday, January 9, 2022, 4:25 PM ET
Where: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA
TV: FOX
Radio: KSAN 107.7 The Bone FM (49ers) / KSPN 710 AM (Rams)
Live Stream: NFL Network, NFL League Pass
NFL Odds: 49ers (+4.5) / Rams (-4.5)

Why Bet on the San Francisco 49ers?

The San Francisco 49ers got back on the right track in Week 17 with a 23-7 win over the Houston Texans in their final home game of the season. The win guarantees San Francisco a winning record this year, but the team would want nothing more than to upend the Rams yet again and ultimately make the playoffs as the final wild card entry in the NFC.

Rookie quarterback Trey Lance received relative praise for his work last Sunday. The third-overall pick out of North Dakota State went 16-of-23 for 249 passing yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. But as promising as Lance’s first-ever win as an NFL starter is, the Texans were far from a real test against a playoff-bound opponent. Also, incumbent starting QB Jimmy Garropolo (thumb) could very well return under center in the season finale.

Regardless of who’s calling the shots on offense, the Niners would be wise to keep pounding the ball. When healthy, Elijah Mitchell is a stud back that delivers solid outings. Mitchell finished with 119 rushing yards on 21 carries against Houston for his fifth 100-yard rushing performance of the season. San Fran’s defense is also fourth in the league allowing just 312.8 yards per game, and this unit has to step up as well to keep the team’s recent dominance of the Rams going.

Why Bet on the Los Angeles Rams?

The thrilling 20-19 road win over the Baltimore Ravens this past weekend kept the Los Angeles Rams’ winning momentum intact. Los Angeles has now won five in a row and is currently the No. 2 seed in the NFC. However, the team could very well finish the season with lower playoff seeding should it lose to the Niners this Sunday.

The bad news is that Matthew Stafford had an ugly outing against Baltimore’s defense. The good news is that the underrated gunslinger game-winning drive was good enough to overcome his blunders. Stafford threw for 309 yards and two passing TDs but did commit three turnovers (two picks, one lost fumble). Luckily for him, Cooper Kupp is a superstar receiver that has bailed him out of tough spots all season long. Kupp had a trip to the end zone to go with his 95 receiving yards on six catches.

LA’s defense has also come to form during the team’s five-game win streak, allowing an average of 16.4 points per game during this stretch. The Rams are also 10th in the league with 23 takeaways this season, as this stop unit will look to break the apparent curse that the Niners have cast upon them (more on their head-to-head records below).

49ers vs. Rams Betting Trends

The 49ers are 5-3 on the road this season (4-4 ATS).
The Bolts are 2-3 in their last five games as road favorites (SU/ATS).
The totals went under in four of those five most recent Niners vs. Rams matchups.
The Rams are 5-2 at home this season (4-3 ATS).
The Rams have won all four of their latest games as favorites to win (3-1 ATS).
The totals have gone unde in each of LA’s last four homestands.

49ers vs. Rams Expert Betting Predictions

The Rams may be favored to win this huge divisional clash, but it’s also hard to deny that the Niners have owned them for the past couple of seasons. That being said, this game is more of a toss-up (both straight-up and against the spread), especially with both sides playing for all the marbles heading into the much-awaited NFL postseason.

Check out our latest sports betting guides for the 2021 NFL Regular Season. Stay tuned for more Football previews and articles and don’t forget to check out the latest football betting odds at our online Bitcoin sportsbook.

*All odds stated are subject to change without prior notice.