1* free play on San Francisco...

The San Francisco 49ers are coming off an ugly loss at home last Thursday night, but the good news is they have had a few more days to rest up and prepare for the Rams. The Niners come in as a big dog, but there are a few reasons to be optimistic about this game. I think San Francisco will keep this one close.

Here are my keys to the game:

1. Colin Kaepernick - The struggling quarterback had one of the best games of his career in an upset win at St. Louis last year. He threw for 343 yards and three TDs, helping San Francisco win by a score of 31-17. While he's not having a great year, he has had a couple of standout performances on the road at New York and Pittsburgh. He threw for 335 yards and a pair of TDs in a loss to the Steelers, and 262 yards with two scores in a 30-27 defeat at New York.

2. Previous History - These teams have a history of playing close games, with three of the last six meetings decided by three points or less. One of those games was a 24-24 tie.

3. X-Factor - The Rams are 5-11 ATS in their last 16 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.

Selection: This is a play on the San Francisco 49ers (Free)