{"id":890520,"date":"2026-09-10T13:18:10","date_gmt":"2026-09-10T13:18:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/890520\/"},"modified":"2026-09-10T13:18:10","modified_gmt":"2026-09-10T13:18:10","slug":"best-nfl-picks-and-predictions-today-how-to-bet-49ers-vs-rams-on-thursday-night-football-in-nfl-week-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/890520\/","title":{"rendered":"Best NFL Picks and Predictions Today (How to Bet 49ers vs. Rams on Thursday Night Football in NFL Week 1)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p id=\"inline-text-0\" class=\"mt-[18px] md:mt-0 mb-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"a2\">One of the best matchups in Week 1 of the NFL season gets the standalone treatment on Thursday night, as the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers face off in the first-ever NFL game in Australia.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-1\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"a7\">Matthew Stafford and the Rams enter this matchup as the favorite to win the Super Bowl after bringing Aaron Donald (out in Week 1) out of retirement and adding defensive stars Myles Garrett and Trent McDuffie in trades during the offseason.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-2\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"ac\">After an NFC title game appearance in the 2025 season, the Rams are going all-in around their aging core, and Sean McVay certainly can scheme up an elite offense to make them tough to beat.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-3\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"ah\">Meanwhile, San Francisco has sky-high expectations as well in 2026 after making the playoffs \u2013 and winning a playoff game \u2013 despite a ton of injuries in the 2025 season. Fred Warner, Nick Bosa, George Kittle and Brock Purdy all missed a ton of time during the 2025 season, yet the 49ers\u2019 infrastructure proved to be one of the best in the NFL.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-4\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"am\">Oddsmakers have set the Rams as favorites in this neutral site game, which features two times trying very different travel plans as they acclimate to the time change in Australia.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-5\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"ar\">All week long, the SI Betting team has examined this matchup to come up with game picks, props and much more. Here\u2019s a look at some of our favorites for the first Thursday Night Football matchup of the season.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Best NFL Picks and Predictions for 49ers vs. Rams in Week 1<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-7\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"b1\"><a href=\"http:\/\/bit.ly\/4kJjtBu\" rel=\"nofollow sponsored noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook<\/a><\/p>\n<p>San Francisco 49ers +3.5 (-108) vs. Los Angeles Rams \u2013 Iain MacMillanDavante Adams Anytime TD (+120) \u2013 Peter DeweyChristian McCaffrey OVER 4.5 Receptions (-111) \u2013 Peter DeweyMike Evans OVER 3.5 Receptions (-130) \u2013 Iain MacMillanSan Francisco 49ers +3.5 (-108) vs. Los Angeles Rams \u2013 Iain MacMillan<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-10\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"bg\">Earlier this week, SI Betting\u2019s senior editor Iain MacMillan shared his favorite bet for this game in his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/betting\/road-to-272-bets-nfl-week-1-picks-for-every-game-01m1jf3pg7m4\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Road to 272 column<\/a> \u2013 where he bets on every NFL game throughout the season:\u00a0<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-11\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"bl\">After the offseason they had, there is more hype behind the Los Angeles Rams this season than I think I&#8217;ve ever seen for a team ahead of the opening kickoff. Maybe they&#8217;ll end up being as good as advertised, but I think this is a perfect spot to sell high on hype. Until they prove they&#8217;re as good as the betting market is treating them, I&#8217;m going to hang back when it comes to betting on them.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-12\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"bq\">Not only that, but I&#8217;m high on the 49ers this season. They had some of the worst injury luck in football last year, but still managed to finish 10th in DVOA. Now, they&#8217;re relatively healthy, and I expect them to overachieve relative to how the betting market is evaluating them.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-13\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"bv\">Not only that, but this game is in Australia, and the Rams plan to do a &#8220;drive-by,\u201d showing up and immediately playing instead of arriving a few days ahead of time to acclimatize. I don&#8217;t know if that&#8217;s the smartest strategy for them to utilize.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-14\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"c0\">I&#8217;ll jump on the 49ers getting more than a field goal in this divisional matchup.<\/p>\n<p>Davante Adams Anytime TD (+120) \u2013 Peter Dewey<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-16\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"ca\">Rams star Davante Adams was a touchdown machine in the 2025 season, catching 14 touchdown passes in as many regular season games. In the playoffs, Adams scored just once, but 15 scores in 17 games is a pretty great success rate.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-17\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"cf\">The star wideout scored in one of his two games against the 49ers and only had five regular-season games without a score in 2025.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-18\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"ck\">I expect Stafford to continue to air the ball out in 2026, and with Puka Nacua garnering a ton of attention from opposing defenses, it has allowed Adams to become one of the best red zone targets in the league.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-19\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"cp\">Last season, he was targeted 31 times in the red zone (third-most in the NFL) catching 13 passes with 12 of them going for scores.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Christian McCaffrey OVER 4.5 Receptions (-111) \u2013 Peter Dewey<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-21\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"cz\">Christian McCaffrey had a huge 2025 season, finishing fourth in the league\u2019s MVP voting. CMC should be in line for another huge workload in the 2026 campaign, especially with the 49ers dealing with injuries to Mike Evans and George Kittle heading into Week 1.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-22\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"d4\">McCaffrey had 1,202 rushing yards and 924 receiving yards last season, but I\u2019m looking at his receptions prop on Thursday night.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-23\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"d9\">The star running back dominated the Rams through the air, catching eight of nine targets for 82 yards and a score in their first meeting in 2025 and eight of 10 targets for 66 yards in their second meeting.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-24\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"de\">Overall, McCaffrey had five or more receptions in 13 of his 17 regular season games in 2025 and both of his postseason appearances. This 49ers offense runs through him more than any other player, and with the Rams featuring an elite pass rush, I wouldn&#8217;t be shocked if Purdy looks to CMC as his outlet early and often on Thursday night.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Mike Evans OVER 3.5 Receptions (-130) \u2013 Iain MacMillan<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-26\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"do\">Not enough has been made of the 49ers acquiring Mike Evans this offseason. Sure, he&#8217;s not the receiver he once was, but he&#8217;s still an extremely effective target and will immediately become one of Brock Purdy&#8217;s most reliable options.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-27\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"dt\">He had 30 receptions for 368 yards in eight games last season. We only need him to haul in four receptions in his 49ers debut for this bet to cash.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-29\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"e2\">Odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-30\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"e7\">If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-31\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"ec\">Claim the latest\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/betting\/sportsbook-promos\/draftkings-promo-code\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">DraftKings promo code<\/a>\u00a0offer today. Sign up and get\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/bit.ly\/4kJjtBu\" rel=\"nofollow sponsored noopener\" target=\"_blank\">$150 in bonus bets instantly when you make your first $5 bet.<\/a><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.minutemediacdn.com\/platform\/google_discover_icon.svg\" class=\"shrink-0\"\/>Add us as a preferred source on Google<a aria-label=\"Follow si.com on Google News\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=si.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" preventdefault:click=\"\" class=\"flex h-[30px] w-[30px] shrink-0 items-center justify-center rounded-full bg-primary font-group-large text-sm font-medium text-white transition-colors hover:bg-secondary focus:bg-secondary md:w-auto md:gap-2.5 md:px-4 md:py-[5px]\" on:pointerenter=\"q-BpOLQORF.js#s_1NOcOpHWmT0\" on:touchstart=\"q-C02KUlcx.js#s_R8AiGTDeM28\" on:focus=\"q-4HuWJVLT.js#s_gxiTM6qMMu8\" on:click=\"q-gAC8BGLP.js#s_lDqay9E5m5g[0]\" q:id=\"ei\">Follow<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"One of the best matchups in Week 1 of the NFL season gets the standalone treatment on Thursday&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":890521,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[436],"tags":[49,48,514,82],"class_list":["post-890520","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nfl","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-nfl","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/890520","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=890520"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/890520\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/890521"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=890520"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=890520"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=890520"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}