NFL Week 9 Picks: St. Louis Rams vs. San Francisco 49ers

St. Louis Rams vs. San Francisco 49ers
Sunday, 11/2/14, 4:05 PM EST
Opening Point Spread: San Francisco -9.5
Current Betting Line: San Francisco -9.5
Opening Total: 44
Current Total: 44
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

The San Francisco 49ers will try to sweep the regular season series against the St. Louis Rams Sunday

St. Louis has dropped three of its last four games, including a 34-7 blowout loss to the Kansas City Chiefs as 7.5-point road underdogs last Sunday, while going UNDER the betting total for the first time in five contests. The Rams were unable to protect quarterback Austin Davis in that affair, which is important to consider when making your Week 9 NFL betting picks, as he was sacked seven times in completing 15 of 25 passes. St. Louis is 7-11 SU and 9-9 ATS as underdogs of 3.5 to 9.5 points the last two-plus seasons, with the OVER going 10-8 in that situation.

The Rams will be seeking to gain revenge from a 31-17 defeat to the 49ers as 3.5-point home underdogs on Oct. 13, which can’t be ignored when looking over the NFL betting odds. St. Louis may find it difficult to protect Davis against one of its biggest division rivals, as it will play this affair without the services of tackle Jake Long, who recently tore his ACL for the second time. The franchise has gone 5-17-1 SU when playing in the Bay Area since 1991—seeking its first victory in that situation since the 2007 campaign.

San Francisco had its three-game win streak snapped before enjoying its bye week, as it dropped a 42-17 decision to the Denver Broncos as 6.5-point road underdogs on Oct. 19, while going OVER the betting total for a second consecutive affair. The 49ers defense was playing at a high level entering that affair in the Mile High City, as it surrendered an average of just 18.3 points during the streak, but it allowed Peyton Manning to throw for 318 yards and four scores. San Francisco is 15-6 SU and 14-7 ATS as favorites of 3.5 to 9.5 points the last two-plus seasons.

The 49ers need to pound the football against the Rams in this matchup, as they’ve gained just 151 total yards on the ground in their last two affairs, but will be facing a stop unit that has allowed 314 such yards over the same time period. Defensively, the team is hoping that captain Patrick Willis will return from injury, but it still has a few key players out on that side of the ball.