Los Angeles Rams vs San Francisco 49ers Prediction, Tips & Odds

Australia’s first-ever regular season NFL game, and it’s not some exhibition dead-rubber either, this is a genuine NFC West heavyweight clash. Aaron Donald has come out of retirement on a limited-game deal but he will not be travelling with the team however new recruit and sack record holder Myles Garrett is. Matthew Stafford arrives off an MVP-calibre year, while on the other side Brock Purdy has a fresh new weapon in Mike Evans and George Kittle back from his Achilles injury. The Rams also have a rebuilt secondary with McDuffie and Watson in the fold.

The travel angle is what swings it for me here. The Rams only land in Melbourne about twenty-four hours before kickoff, while the Niners arrived a full week early to prepare properly. That has me leaning against the grain in this one. San Francisco’s receiving room has had its injury issues, but with Deebo Samuel and Christian McCaffrey both trending healthy with Evans and rookie Stribling set to open things up, I think the Niners pull off the upset in a tight one.