Sep 15, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. (1) runs back a kick against the Minnesota Vikings in the first quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images If you gave up on the Rams and 49ers, the beeping sound you hear is the caution alarm that one of these teams could still crash the NFC playoffs.
Neither is playing perfect football entering Thursday’s primetime matchup in San Francisco but that might present the best opportunity for finding payable plays on either side.
There’s more hoops on another light NBA schedule and a few college basketball games worth our attention.
Los Angeles Rams at San Francisco 49ers, 8:15 p.m. ET
The Rams are the running with scissors team in the NFC West. Everyone knows they can be dangerous but Los Angeles also has potential to inflict damage with a defense that allowed six touchdowns to the Bills last week but somehow survived.
The 49ers are hurt at key positions, namely left tackle and running back, denting San Francisco in a ride that is still driveable because of Brock Purdy’s efficiency. He had 292 yards passing and three touchdowns in the Week 3 matchup with the Rams.
Neither pass defense is at its best at the moment, and a string of big plays early in the game wouldn’t be surprising. Of course, Sean McVay and Kyle Shanahan have the “friends for decades” connection and neither will be shocked if the other comes out with a run-first approach.
We’re targeting the greasy wheel theory Thursday with 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel.
He’s gained 100 or more yards from scrimmage in five of his past six against the Rams with seven total touchdowns (4 rush, 3 rec.) in his last eight matchups with L.A.
Best Bet: Deebo Samuel anytime TD scorer +140, Samuel over 49.5 receiving yards (+328 FanDuel)
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Sacramento Kings at New Orleans Pelicans, 8:10 p.m. ET
Sacramento sashes into New Orleans fresh from a 141-97 thrashing of Utah in which the Kings made 22 of 44 3-point attempts, with Doug McDermott and Kevin Huerter each making six long-range shots off the bench. They put up 140 two days prior in a 27-point win over the Spurs.
There’s an opportunity to extend the trail of tears on this road trip given the Pelicans’ poor defensive performance. New Orleans has lost 11 of its past 12 games.
De’Aaron Fox has the makings of an All-NBA season in the works two months into the season with his max-level contract providing plenty of motivation to keep things rolling. He had 35 points, seven rebounds, five assists and three steals in the regular-season finale at New Orleans last season. He made 4 of his 16 tries from 3-point range.
Best Bet: De’Aaron Fox over 25 points, 3+ made threes (+155, DraftKings)
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Iowa State at Iowa, 7:30 p.m. ET
The Cyclones are No. 3 in the latest Top 25 and Iowa has yet to establish an identity with a new cast on a roster loaded with young talent.
The Hawkeyes took the women’s rivalry game in the CyHawk showdown on Wednesday and a carryover in intensity is a given.
Iowa gets it done with guard play, ranking sixth in the nation in assists and in the top 20 in made 3-pointers per game. But Iowa also has enough size to keep Iowa State from second-chance points.
Whether the Hawkeyes come up with a collective answer for Cyclones All-American candidate Keshon Gilbert (17.4 points, 5.5 assists per game) could dictate the outcome.
We’re going with Iowa to keep this closer than expected.
Best Bet: Iowa +6.5 (-110 FanDuel)
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