Pros are betting 49ers over Rams

The San Francisco 49ers are favored against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 17, and the line has continued moving up heading into kickoff. Sharp money has come in to push the line from 49ers -3.5 to 49ers -5, according to Odds Shark.

The 49ers opened as a 6.5 point underdog last Sunday. The line started dropping as soon as it became clear the Rams were going to bench some of their starters. Once we learned that QB Jared Goff, RB Todd Gurley, C John Sullivan, OT Andrew Whitworth, and DT Aaron Donald were all going to sit, the line swung to the 49ers. It was at a field goal on Wednesday, and settled in at 3.5 points heading into Thursday.

Professional bettors will usually wait and see where the line maneuvers before jumping on it. I thought at some point they would move to the Rams, but they have piled on the 49ers alongside public bettors. I took the 49ers in my SuperContest picks, but I also got them at a field goal (it uses a Wednesday line). I am much more comfortable with that line than 4.5 or five points that you’re finding today. The 49ers should win this game against the Rams reserves, but a one-game opportunity for Sean Mannion and company could be unpredictable. I would not be surprised if this game was closer than expected.