Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Vegas Play of the Day: Monday Night Football

San Francisco vs Dallas

L.M. Otero / AP

San Francisco 49ers tight end Vernon Davis (85) reaches up to grab a touchdown pass as Dallas Cowboys’ Bruce Carter (54), J.J. Wilcox (27) and Justin Durant (52) watch in the first half of an NFL game Sunday, Sept. 7, 2014, in Arlington, Texas.

Week 6: 49ers at Rams

What's your pick in the Sun's handicapping game of the week? (Public Opinion This Season: 2-4)
49ers minus-3.5 — 82.1%
Rams plus-3.5 — 17.9%

This poll is closed, see Full Results »

Note: This is not a scientific poll. The results reflect only the opinions of those who chose to participate.

I’ve already written extensively on tonight’s game for our handicapping contest.

I’ll try to avoid being too repetitive with the Play of the Day, which uses odds from the South Point and started with $10,000 bankrolls.

Saint Louis Rams plus-3.5 vs. San Francisco 49ers: $440 to win $400

The Rams’ offense has been terrific; their defense terrible. Judging based on more than 80 percent of the wagers coming in on the 49ers tonight, the betting market believes the offense is more likely to regress than the defense is to improve.

I disagree. I know it might be difficult to trust in a four-game sample from quarterback Austin Davis, who just two years ago was an undrafted free agent out of Southern Miss, but it’s easier if you’ve watched him.

Davis’ arm and poise has impressed me equally. He’s got the numbers too. Davis is just outside the top 10 in the NFL in passer rating, and he’s leading an offense that’s averaging 5.8 yards per play.

That ranks 10th in the NFL. The Rams’ defense has been horrific, ranking 30th in the league according to Football Outsiders, but history indicates that’s more volatile.

A defense is more capable of drastically improving during the season than an offense. And it’s not like the Rams are without talent on that side of the ball.

Defensive end Robert Quinn, linebacker James Laurinaitis and cornerback Janoris Jenkins are all better than they’ve played. They’ll challenge the 49ers offense and give the Rams a chance to win late at the Edward-Jones Dome.

Standings: Bern (47-43-1, $10,651), Keefer (45-48, $10,501), Brewer (42-48-3, $5,805)

Case Keefer can be reached at 702-948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.

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