NFC Championship Game Opening Odds Report
49ers, Rams Meet for Third Time with Trip to Super Bowl at Stake
The road teams have thrived during the NFC playoffs and that is a trend that the Los Angeles Rams will be looking to change when the division rival San Francisco 49ers come to town on Sunday.
The 49ers already own a road win against the Rams this season, although San Francisco needed to the Week 18 matchup between the NFC West rivals to make the playoffs. With a Super Bowl berth on the line, look for a more spirited effort from Los Angeles.

The Rams (+200) have the second-best odds to win the Super Bowl behind Kansas City while the 49ers come in at +400.
- Game: San Francisco 49ers (12-7-0) at Los Angeles Rams (14-5-0)
- Location: SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles
- Day/Time: Sunday, 6:40 p.m. ET
- Television: CBS
Betting Lines
49ers Embracing Underdog Role
Heading into the final game of the regular season, it wasn’t even a certainty that the San Francisco 49ers would be in the playoffs. It took an overtime win in Week 18 against the Los Angeles Rams for San Francisco to secure a spot in the postseason.
The 49ers were a pretty solid road team during the regular season but picked it up a notch in the postseason, eliminating division champions Dallas and Green Bay on the road.
The defense and special teams have sparked San Francisco’s playoff run. In a win over Dallas, the 49ers allowed points on just one of the Cowboys’ first seven possessions.
The defense was even more impressive against Green Bay. After allowing a touchdown on the opening drive of the game, the Packers didn’t score in their next seven drives. Green Bay finished with 263 yards but still led 10-3 before the San Francisco special teams got involved again.
The 49ers blocked a field goal on the final play of the first half and then came up with a blocked punt by Jordan Willis, which was returned for a touchdown by Talanoa Hufanga. The only TD of the game for the 49ers tied the game at 10 with 4:41 left to play. San Francisco got the ball back and drove 44 yards to set up the game-winning field goal by Robbie Gould.
The play of quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo has been spotty, to say the least, as he is 27 of 44 for 303 with no touchdowns and two interceptions in the postseason.
The 49ers have won four games in a row and covered against the NFL picks against the spread in each of those games.
Personnel Moves Pay Off for Rams
The Super Bowl odds for the Los Angeles Rams went up when they traded Jared Goff and a first-round pick to get Matthew Stafford.
The Rams weren’t done there, dealing a second- and third-round pick to Denver to pick up pass-rushing star Von Miller before claiming receiver Odell Beckham Jr. off waivers.
Stafford has completed 75 percent of his passes in the playoffs for 568 yards and four touchdowns and no interceptions and has a TD run as well. Beckham has 10 catches for 123 yards and a touchdown. However, Miller could be the player who has had the largest impact in the postseason.
Miller has 10 tackles overall and a sack in each game. It seemed as if Miller was in the face of Tampa Bay quarterback Tom Brady on every key passing play. It was a similar formula as the Buccaneers’ pass rush disrupted opposing offenses en route to winning the Super Bowl last season.
Von Miller had 9 QB pressures (led team), 1 sack, 1 FF & 1 fumble recovered, with 2 turnovers forced by pressure, per @NextGenStats.
– Aaron Donald had 7 QB pressures (T-most in a game this season for Donald w/ Week 16 at MIN), 1 sack, 3 QB hits. Relentless pressure on Brady.— Mike Giardi (@MikeGiardi) January 24, 2022
Miller teams with Aaron Donald and Leonard Floyd to give the Rams a frightening set of pass rushers and it will be crucial for the San Francisco offensive line to keep Garoppolo free from pressure.
The Rams have covered against the Las Vegas odds in four of their last six games, including both playoff games.
Opening Line
The Rams find themselves playing host to the NFC Championship Game after eliminating No. 2 seed and defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay along with top-seeded Green Bay’s loss to San Francisco.
The line opened at -3½ for the Rams. For those who bet online, this will be the eighth straight home game when the Rams are favored. Los Angeles is 4-3 straight up in those games and is 3-4 against the spread.
The total is 46½, which is eight points less than the AFC title game. Four of the last five Rams’ home games would have finished under that total.
Don’t look for San Francisco to be lighting up the scoreboard. Star receiver Deebo Samuel and left tackle Trent Williams suffered injuries during the win over Green Bay and both currently carry questionable tags. If either of them are limited, it could impact the 49ers’ offense even more.
Facing a stout run defense against Tampa Bay, the game was put more on the shoulders of Stafford and Cooper Kupp. Don’t be surprised if the running game is featured more against San Francisco, which did allow Aaron Jones to pile up 170 yards from scrimmage.