Who will win the first NFL game in Australia?
Down Under is calling, and Australia is set to host its very first NFL game ever with our Rams vs. 49ers pick. This isn’t just any matchup—it’s one of the league’s top showdowns right now, as both teams are among the top contenders, as evidenced by the 2027 Super Bowl odds.
With 30.5 points per game (Rams) and 25.7 (49ers), two of last season’s top-10 offenses are facing off here. Even though jet lag in Australia certainly shouldn’t be underestimated, the Rams’ nearly unchanged offense in particular should get off to a hot start and score well over 25 points.
The situation is different for the 49ers, who’ve had to completely overhaul their receiving corps. Pearsall is out for the entire season, Jennings is gone, and it seems doubtful that George Kittle will be back to 100% in Week 1 after his Achilles tendon tear. While Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel, and rookie Stribling are certainly interesting options, they’ll need time to gel first.
So we expect the 49ers’ scoring output against this formidable defense (the Rams signed Myles Garrett in the offseason and brought Aaron Donald back) to fall below the 20-point mark. Accordingly, our prediction for the Rams vs. 49ers game is a season-opening win for the Rams by more than 3.5 points.
The first Australia Game kicks off at 2:35 a.m. in Australia on Friday morning. The game will be streamed live on Netflix, which has secured some of the NFL broadcast rights for this season.
The Rams are considered the overwhelming favorites to win the Super Bowl, and they should prove that right at the start of the season, especially with Matthew Stafford at 100%. Therefore, both point spread and moneyline bets on the Rams are definitely recommended, and for the Rams vs. 49ers game, it’s worth taking advantage of the odds on both options.
Los Angeles Rams – San Francisco 49ers Head-to-Head Record
The Rams have won four of their last five matchups against the Niners. Even though last year’s game—ironically, the Rams’ home game—went to San Francisco, we see this year’s home game (despite the game being in Australia, the Rams are considered the home team) as a clear win for Los Angeles.
Not only have they kept their offense intact, but they’ve also further strengthened their already formidable defense. We wouldn’t be surprised if they were able to put up a high score again. In their last matchup in November, they scored 42 points, which also makes the betting odds for the over in LA vs. San Francisco particularly interesting.
Los Angeles Rams – San Francisco 49ers Pick
Australian viewers will get to see one of the NFC West’s most prestigious rivalries right off the bat—a matchup that has produced some epic battles in recent years. While the 42–26 score from their last matchup probably won’t quite be matched, we definitely expect the total to exceed 40 points here.
That makes a bet on the Rams + Over 40.5 our top pick for Rams vs. 49ers. Both picks can also be played individually, though the odds are best when combined with others.
For the player bet in this matchup, we’re also going with the Rams. In their last meeting, running back Kyren Williams scored two touchdowns, which makes a TD bet on Williams an interesting option again for Thursday night.
