The matchup between the surprising Jacksonville Jaguars and the undefeated Philadelphia Eagles highlights this week's NFL slate, as FrontPageBets GM/Content Director Mike Szvetitz makes his picks and predictions.
The last time they met, the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams authored a memorable chapter of their decades-long rivalry, as the Rams held on to win the NFC Championship Game en route to claiming Super Bowl 56.
But the 49ers have had the Rams’ number outside that game -- winning the past six regular-season meetings -- and they’re giving points in this one despite a horrendous outing last week.
FrontPageBets is here to deliver three picks you can count on for this week’s edition of Monday Night Football.Â
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings and subject to change)
Rams (money line, +105)
Get ready for football writers to complain on Twitter about the 49ers playing a prime-time game for the second week in a row.
Jimmy Garoppolo looked nice and composed in Week 2 when he subbed in for an injured Trey Lance and guided the Niners to a 27-7 win over the Seattle Seahawks. But last week’s Sunday night game was unwatchable, an 11-10 San Francisco loss to the Denver Broncos that featured Garoppolo running out the back of the end zone for a safety.
Garoppolo won’t have left tackle Trent Williams protecting him, as the All-Pro anchor was ruled out Saturday with an ankle injury. Aaron Donald and company might be giving the quarterback nightmares as we speak.
But San Francisco is even more banged up on the other side of the ball, with starting defensive linemen Arik Armstead (foot) and Javon Kinlaw (knee) listed as questionable and linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair (knee) also ruled out.
The Rams have recovered from a Week 1 crushing at the hands of the Buffalo Bills to win two straight, and though both were close, they’re clearly the team in better form. The 49ers have home-field advantage going for them... and not a ton else.
Allen Robinson to score a touchdown (+235)
49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans has coached up one of the best units in football. Injuries notwithstanding, San Francisco ranks second in total defense (227 yards allowed per game), first in passing defense (148.3 ypg) and third in scoring defense (12.3 points per game).
 You can be sure Ryans won’t let his defense fall prey to Cooper Kupp again.
Kupp’s huge day in the NFC Championship Game -- 11 receptions, 142 yards and two scores -- helped the Rams rally in the fourth quarter and win. The Niners usually fare better than that against Kupp, having allowed him to score just two touchdowns in seven regular-season meetings.
If Kupp is being shadowed or even double-teamed at times on Monday, expect Matthew Stafford to look for the Rams’ newest wideout, Robinson. Kupp and Robinson have seen six red-zone targets apiece this year, so Robinson is the clear No. 2 option for this pass-happy offense when inside the 20.
Over 9.5 punts (+110)
Do it. You know you’ve always wanted to do it. Bet on punts.
The 49ers defense has created just four takeaways this year; they usually get off the field the standard way. Their third-down defense has allowed just a 32.5% conversion rate (13 of 40) and no fourth-down attempts thus far, forcing opponents to punt it away.
And once again, there’s San Fran’s offensive struggles to consider. The Niners have punted 14 times in three games, and with the Garoppolo-guided offense averaging scant yards per play last week and going 1-for-10 on third down, expect a similar story against the Rams’ star-studded D.
Last week’s 49ers-Broncos game featured a combined 17 punts. The Rams’ offense is far less inept than the Broncos’ has been this year, and Los Angeles has punted just seven times so far, but the over is the smart play and hard to pass up at this number.
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Adam Zielonka is a senior editor and sports betting writer for Field Level Media. Follow him on Twitter at @Adam_Zielonka
