‘Thursday Night Football’ Betting Preview: Los Angeles Rams at San Francisco 49ers

What a difference a day makes. Had just one Sunday gone differently for the San Francisco 49ers this season, we’d be talking about the NFC West race, and how the 49ers were in it. They would be just a game behind the Seattle Seahawks, and they would be tied with the Los Angeles Rams, just a game out of the wild card.

Instead, there is talk of trading head coach Kyle Shanahan, people are questioning quarterback Brock Purdy’s future in San Francisco, and some football pundits are declaring that the Niners Super Bowl window has closed.

Just one day.

Game Line: 49ers (-3)

If one bad day can swing a door shut, a good day can open it. Not wide open, but the crack would get bigger for San Francisco with a win on Thursday night. Using the playoff probabilities calculated by Next Gen Stats, the 49ers currently have a 9% chance of making the postseason. A win over the Rams at home on Thursday would improve those odds to 14%. A loss, however, and they have less than a 1% chance.

For the Rams, they currently have a 26% chance of making the playoffs, and if they win on the road as underdogs on Thursday, that number improves to 41%.

At the moment, the 49ers are paying +1000 to make the playoffs, and L.A. is +150.

Quarterback Proposition Bets

Matthew Stafford is coming off his best game of the season in the Rams’ 44-42 win over the Buffalo Bills. His 320 yards was a season high, which is significantly above Thursday’s passing yards line of 242.5. It is worth noting that the 49ers defense has allowed an average of just 183 yards passing per game.

Brock Purdy is coming off his best week since a win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 10. Last week, he threw for 325 yards and two touchdowns in San Francisco’s 38-13 win over the Chicago Bears.

Against the Rams, his passing yards over/under is 250.5, and he is -145 to throw as many as two touchdowns.

Running Back Proposition Bets

The most consistent Rams offensive player this season has been running back Kyren Williams. He has scored touchdowns in 10 of 13 games, and he is paying -160 to score again on Thursday. He’s also rushed for at least 75 yards in eight games, and his over/under on rushing yards for Thursday is 72.5.

Injuries have reduced the 49ers backfield to third-string running back Isaac Guerendo, who himself is now injured and a game-time decision. Patrick Taylor Jr. is the other possibility at running back.

Because of the injury, neither has a pregame rushing yards line on the board. But Guerendo is -140 to score a touchdown, and Taylor is paying -120 if he scores.

Pass Catcher Proposition Bets

The Puka Nacua show alone is worth the price of admission, with the second-year wide receiver coming off a 12-catch, 162-yard performance last week against the Bills, including one of the prettiest sideline toe-taps you’ll ever see. 

Nacua has an over/under of 7.5 catches and 89.5 for Thursday, and his partner in crime, Cooper Kupp, has lines of 6.5 receptions and 63.5 yards. As touchdown scorers, Nacua is paying +130 and Kupp is paying +140.

Tight end George Kittle is telling 49ers fans not to worry about Deebo Samuel. Samuel posted about his frustration at not getting the football more this season. But Kittle says his teammate is primed to have a big Thursday night game against the Rams. Oddsmakers have Samuel’s over/under at 49.5 receiving yards, and he is +145 to score a touchdown.

Kittle is +125 to find the end zone, and after his monster 151-yard game last week against the Bears, his receiving yards line is set at a modest 58.5.

Jauan Jennings leads the 49ers with a line of 69.5 yards, and rookie Ricky Pearsall is at 17.5. Jennings pays +165 to find the end zone.