LA Rams (1-1) at San Francisco (0-2)
When: Thursday, September 21st 2017
Where: Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, CA
Time: 8:25 ET | TV: NFL Network
Opening Odds: Los Angeles -3/42
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A pair of NFC West rivals will kick-off Week 3 of the NFL schedule when they meet on Thursday night in Santa Clara. The Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers are both led by rookie head coaches who are trying to turn these franchises around. San Francisco has yet to find the end zone through its first two games, but has won three in a row in the series, including a season sweep against the Rams in 2016. The 49ers put up a good fight in a three-point loss at Seattle last week, but have been limited to four field goals under coach Kyle Shanahan, marking the first time in franchise history they haven’t scored a touchdown in the opening two games. The Rams were denied a possible 2-0 start under coach Sean McVay after surrendering a late touchdown in a 27-20 setback to the Washington Redskins on Sunday. Los Angeles had the second-worst passing game in the league last season – behind only San Francisco – as they averaged an NFL-low 14.0 points a game, but have 86 points during its 1-1 start.
Third-year back Todd Gurley is off to a good start as he and Kansas City rookie Kareem Hunt are the only players to amass more than 100 yards rushing and 100 yards receiving through two weeks. Gurley has rushed for 247 yards and a pair of TDs in three meetings against the Niners. Quarterback Jared Goff, the No. 1 overall pick a year ago, was not as sharp as he was in Week 1, but did really his team from a pair of double-digit deficits to forge a fourth-quarter tie on Sunday. Sammy Watkins and rookie Cooper Kupp each have seven catches through the first two games to tie for the team lead. Stud defensive tackle Aaron Donald had a quiet debut after returning from a contract dispute but vowed to be better against San Francisco. The Rams head to Dallas next week before returning to the Coliseum to host Seattle.
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Running back Carlos Hyde is also coming off a nice game, rushing for 124 yards on only 15 carries against Seattle, while ripping off runs of 61 and 27 yards. San Francisco’s passing game has been bad under Brian Hoyer, so expect Shanahan to lean heavily on Hyde once again. He ran for 88 yards and a pair of scores to carry the 49ers to a 28-0 rout of the Rams in the 2016 season opener. Hoyer, playing with his fourth different team in four seasons, looks to rebound from a terrible performance in Seattle when he managed only 99 yards and an interception on 15-of-27 passing. Wideout Pierre Garcon has been Hoyer’s top target with a team-leading nine receptions. The 49ers defense is dealing with several injuries in their defensive backfield including Jimmie Ward, who is questionable for Thursday. San Fran will go on the road for three straight beginning next week in Arizona.
This will probably be another one of those horribly boring Thursday night affairs in which the offenses will struggle. The Rams have the better team overall and Goff is better than Hoyer in my opinion. Look for L.A. to slow down Hyde and force Hoyer to make mistakes. I like the Rams in this one.
Pick: Rams -2.5
- Rams are 16-36-1 ATS in their last 53 games in September.
- Rams are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 vs. NFC West.
- Rams are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 Thursday games.
- Rams are 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.
- Rams are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 road games.
- Rams are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games in Week 3.
- Rams are 1-5-1 ATS in their last 7 games after allowing more than 150 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Rams are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games following a straight up loss.
- Rams are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games after allowing more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
- Rams are 1-6-1 ATS in their last 8 games on grass.
- Rams are 1-8-1 ATS in their last 10 games following a ATS loss.
- Rams are 1-8 ATS in their last 9 games overall.
- Rams are 0-4 ATS vs. a team with a losing record.
- Rams are 0-8-1 ATS in their last 9 vs. NFC.
- 49ers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 vs. NFC West.
- 49ers are 4-9 ATS in their last 13 vs. NFC.
- 49ers are 4-9 ATS in their last 13 games on grass.
- 49ers are 5-12 ATS in their last 17 games overall.
- 49ers are 4-10 ATS in their last 14 games following a straight up loss.
- 49ers are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games in September.
- 49ers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS win.
- 49ers are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 Thursday games.
- 49ers are 1-7 ATS in their last 8 home games.
- 49ers are 1-10 ATS in their last 11 games after accumulating less than 150 yards passing in their previous game.
- 49ers are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games in Week 3.
- 49ers are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games after accumulating more than 150 yards rushing in their previous game.
- 49ers are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games after allowing less than 15 points in their previous game.
- Over is 4-0 in Rams last 4 games overall.
- Over is 4-0 in Rams last 4 vs. a team with a losing record.
- Over is 4-0 in Rams last 4 games after allowing more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
- Over is 5-0 in Rams last 5 games on grass.
- Under is 9-1 in Rams last 10 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.
- Over is 5-1 in Rams last 6 vs. NFC.
- Under is 5-1 in Rams last 6 games after allowing more than 150 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Over is 4-1 in Rams last 5 games following a straight up loss.
- Under is 8-2 in Rams last 10 vs. NFC West.
- Over is 4-1 in Rams last 5 games following a ATS loss.
- Under is 35-15-1 in Rams last 51 road games.
- Over is 14-6-1 in Rams last 21 games in Week 3.
- Under is 8-2 in 49ers last 10 Thursday games.
- Over is 4-1 in 49ers last 5 games after accumulating more than 150 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Under is 21-8 in 49ers last 29 games after accumulating less than 250 total yards in their previous game.
- Under is 21-8 in 49ers last 29 home games.
- Under is 5-2 in 49ers last 7 games following a ATS win.
- Under is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings in San Francisco.
- Under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.
- Underdog is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 meetings.
- Rams are 5-11 ATS in their last 16 meetings in San Francisco.
- Rams are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 meetings.
