RAMS at 49ERS
8:15 p.m., Niners by 2 ½, 49
HANK’S HONEYS: Both teams are coming off huge wins at home to set up stretch runs. Between that and the rivalry, each will come into the game highly motivated. The difference might be the 49ers passing game. Brock Purdy and George Kittle came alive with monster games against the Bears and enjoy favorable matchups here. Purdy threw for 325 yards against the Bears after throwing for 292 yards and a season-high three TDs in the first meeting against the Rams, who have yielded the second-highest yards per attempts (8.02) in the NFL. Over half of Purdy’s targets against Chicago went to Kittle, who continued a great stretch of play by catching six passes for 151 yards. Kittle is a zone buster and the Rams are a zone team. In spite of a slew of injuries the 49ers come into the game with the league’s third-best pass defense. There are reasons to back the Rams, however. While Kyle Shanahan has gotten the better of Sean McVay in their head-to-head matchups (10-5 SU, 6-9 ATS), McVay has proven to be excellent getting his team ready on short rest with an 8-1 SU record. The Rams’ running game has come on behind Blake Corum and Kyren Williams and the hobbled Niner D has been soft against the run, having allowed 19 rushing TDs. One thing is for certain, however — the potential for points. This game should easily go over the total. Unless you really love a side, that’s the way to go.
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: 49ers and the over.
