49ers vs. Rams Prediction: NFL Week 5 Opening Odds & Early Picks for TNF

The Los Angeles Rams welcome the San Francisco 49ers to SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., for Thursday Night Football in Week 5, and my 49ers vs. Rams prediction fades the underdog visitors due to some key personnel concerns, among other reasons.

The Rams are the 3 or 3.5-point betting favorite, and my NFL picks below are part of the NFL predictions for Week 5. The NFC West clash starts at 8:15 p.m. ET (Prime Video).

🏈 Early 49ers vs. Rams prediction & best bet

Stay ahead with the rest of our early NFL predictions for Week 5.

Rams -3 (-120) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Rams covered the spread in three of four games, with the other slipping away due to a Philadelphia Eagles' blocked field goal at the death.

While the division rivals' last three meetings were decided by a field goal, I can't back a 49ers team that may be without one of its primary receivers, Ricky Pearsall. He suffered a knee injury and was able to return for just one play before exiting again in the Week 4 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. 

Wideout Jauan Jennings also left briefly but was able to finish the game. By all accounts, including his own, he should be good to go. 

I'd still consider backing the 49ers to keep the score within a field goal if those injuries were the full extent of the team's personnel concerns, but Nick Bosa's absence tips the scales beyond retrieval.

The 49ers had the sixth-best defensive DVOA with Bosa in the lineup, but that won't be the case when the new rankings are released after Travis Etienne Jr. gashed the unit to the tune of 174 yards on the ground.

And I can't trust Brock Purdy after he threw two picks against the Jaguars. While he attempts to recapture his mojo, I'm immeasurably more confident about backing Matthew Stafford and Co. 

Of the best sports betting sites, only DraftKings offers a spread of -3. Take that number while you can still get it, even at the shorter -120 odds. A winning $10 bet will yield an $8.33 profit. 

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📊 49ers vs. Rams odds: Thursday Night Football

Latest NFL odds updated live in real time.

📈 49ers vs. Rams opening odds

• Moneyline: 49ers +100 | Rams -120
• Spread: 49ers +1.5 (-110) | Rams -1.5 (-110)
• Over/Under: Over 47.5 (-110) | Under 47.5 (-110)

🔍 49ers vs. Rams odds analysis

About 75% of the early bets back the Rams to cover. With DraftKings the outlier at -3, I expect it to follow the lead of the other best sports betting apps, increasing the spread to -3.5 at some point in the lead-up to kickoff.