NFL picks against the spread, Week 4: 49ers, Rams looking at an ugly one

We're back for another week of picks. I improved a little bit in Week 3, putting together an 8-7-1 record against the spread. It wasn't exactly an inspiring effort, but it was better than a kick in the pants, I suppose.

The 49ers head to St. Louis for Thursday Night Football this week. The 49ers and Rams are both scuffling, and with a short week, I really do think we're in line for a fairly ugly game. I do think the 49ers can win this game, although given the last two week's performances, and the Rams semi-sort-of ownage of the 49ers in 2012, my confidence level is pretty low. I'm in a pick 'em league where we make picks straight up, but you provide confidence points for each pick, using 1 through 16 (or 15, in the case of this week with two teams on bye). I'm fairly certain 49ers-Rams is getting some looooow confidence points.

Speaking of wagering (never encouraged here because we are as pure as the driven snow, and gambling is baaaad), I do think the under is worth a look. The over/under is set at 42 on many sites, with a couple at 44. I would take under on either, as I see some kind of 20-17 kind of score. Thursday Night Football is usually a slogging affair, and this matchup does not really set up much different in my eyes. I'd love to see a glorious effort from the 49ers, but there is nothing that really inspires that in me at this point.

Once again, James, Cover32.com Raiders writer, and I are back with our picks against the spread. I was 8-7-1 last week, while James was a robust 6-10-0.

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