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St. Louis Rams at San Francisco 49ers NFL Lines & Predictions

Written by Jimmy Boyd on October 2, 2009

rams niners 10209 The 0-3 St. Louis Rams take on the 2-1 San Francisco 49ers this Sunday at Monster Park in a Week 4 NFC West showdown. Last week, the Rams hung in there against the Packers, down just six heading into the fourth quarter, but they ran out of gas in the fourth to fall 36-17. The 49ers could easily be 3-0, but they fell victim to a Brett Favre touchdown pass with just two seconds remaining to fall 27-24 in Minnesota. The last time these teams met we saw a nailbiter with the 49ers pulling out a 17-16 victory. That win was San Francisco’s sixth in the past eight meetings, but it trails the all-time series 60-57-2. The NFL odds makers aren’t giving St. Louis much of a chance this week, listing the 49ers as 9.5-point favorites with the total set at 37.

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49ers QB Shaun Hill has a proven track record against the Rams, having won each of his two career starts against them. But if he wants to improve his career mark to 3-0, he and his teammates will have to avoid a letdown after a heartbreaking loss to the Vikings and they’ll have to do it without star running back Frank Gore, who is out indefinitely with an ankle injury. That means that Glen Coffee should see plenty of the football this week so fantasy players be sure to activate him. Coffee’s 249 preseason rushing yards were the most in the league and he will have his chance to shine against the Rams’ 27th ranked run defense. It is also worth noting that St. Louis is just 1-10 against the spread in the first month of the season over the last 3 seasons, losing by an average score of 29.4 to 9.6. If you think San Francisco can bury the Rams without Gore, bet the 49ers at -9.5 at BetUS.

For the Rams to have a chance against Mike Singletary’s defense, St. Louis running back Steven Jackson is going to have to have a big day. He is second in the NFC with 60 carries and he has consistently produced for his football team. He is going to need an extra special effort this week, however, against a 49ers defense that is ranked 4th in the NFL against the run. Jackson is a great receiver out of the backfield and the Rams may be able to utilize him best by hitting him on swing passes and screens to let him make plays in the open field. It is worth noting that plays on poor passing teams playing on the road with a completion percentage of 53 percent or worse, after allowing 8 or more passing yards per attempt in their last game, are 24-5 against the number the last two seasons so St. Louis may be in line to beat the number this week. If you think odds makers are spotting St. Louis too many points, bet the Rams at +9.5 at BetUS.

*Note: Don’t miss Jimmy’s 5* 2009 NFL Non-Conference Game of the Year in his Sunday NFL picks package!

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