Since winning their meeting in the finale of the 2018 regular season, the Los Angeles Rams have had nothing but trouble with the San Francisco 49ers. Los Angeles has lost the last six matchups, including a 27-24 overtime setback at home in Week 18 in which it scored the first 17 points of the game. The NFC West-champion Rams (14-5) will try to end the slide and secure their fifth trip to the Super Bowl when they host the 49ers (12-7) on Sunday in the 2022 NFC Championship Game. Both teams advanced in the 2022 NFL playoff bracket with field goals at the final gun, with Los Angeles winning at Tampa Bay and San Francisco taking down Green Bay.
Kickoff from SoFi Stadium is set for 6:30 p.m. ET. Los Angeles is a 3.5-point favorite in the latest Rams vs. 49ers odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over-under for total points scored is 46. Before locking in any 49ers vs. Rams picks, make sure you see the latest NFL predictions from SportsLine's proven projection model.
The model, which simulates every NFL game 10,000 times, is up over $7,500 for $100 players on top-rated NFL picks since its inception six-plus years ago. The model enters championship weekend in the 2021 NFL playoffs on an incredible 137-97 run on top-rated NFL picks that dates back to the 2017 season. Amazingly, it hasn't missed a top-rated pick since Week 14 of the regular season.
The model also ranked in the Top 10 on NFLPickWatch four of the past five years on straight-up NFL picks and beat more than 94 percent of CBS Sports Football Pick'em players four times during that span. Anyone who has followed it is way up.
Now, the model has set its sights on Rams vs. 49ers on Sunday. You can visit SportsLine now to see the picks. Here are the NFL odds and trends for 49ers vs. Rams:
Cooper Kupp has garnered consideration for the NFL MVP Award, and with good reason. The 28-year-old wideout from Eastern Washington became the fourth player in history and first since Steve Smith in 2005 to lead the league in receptions (145), receiving yards (1,947) and touchdown catches (16). Kupp recorded 11 100-yard performances, including two against the 49ers, during the regular season and added another in last Sunday's 27-24 victory over the Buccaneers, when he hauled in nine passes for 183 yards and a TD.
Matthew Stafford has followed one of the best regular seasons of his career with a pair of strong performances in the NFL playoffs 2022. The 33-year-old quarterback has completed 41-of-55 pass attempts for 568 yards and four touchdown tosses and also rushed for two scores in the victories over Arizona and Tampa Bay. Stafford, who was tied with Jacksonville rookie Trevor Lawrence for most interceptions in 2021 with 17, has yet to be picked off this postseason.
Why the 49ers can coverSan Francisco struggled offensively at Green Bay in last Saturday's 13-10 win but was strong on defense and special teams. After allowing the Packers to drive 69 yards for a touchdown on the opening possession of the game, the 49ers clamped down, forcing a fumble on Green Bay's next series and giving up just one field goal while blocking another attempt. They forced the Packers to punt six times and blocked one of the kicks before returning it for the game-tying touchdown with less than five minutes remaining.
Deebo Samuel was held under 100 scrimmage yards after eclipsing the mark in three of his previous four contests, but made key plays, including a 45-yard return on the opening kickoff of the second half to set up San Francisco's first field goal. The versatile 26-year-old wideout posted his first career 1,000-yard season and was second on the 49ers with 365 yards on the ground. Samuel was a force against the Rams during the regular season, running for a pair of scores, hauling in a touchdown pass and throwing one while racking up 297 yards of total offense.
How to make Rams vs. 49ers picksSportsLine's model is leaning Under on the total. In fact, it says neither starting quarterback throws two touchdown passes. It also says one side of the spread cashes in more than 50 percent of simulations. You can only get the pick at SportsLine.
