The 49ers will open the season as underdogs against the Rams in Melbourne

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - February 1: George Kittle #85 of the San Francisco 49ers interviews Puka Nacua #12 of the Los Angeles Rams during a Pro Bowl team practice during the NFL Pro Bowl Games at Moscone Center South on February 1, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Kara Durrette/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The full NFL schedule will be released on Thursday evening. We already know a couple of the San Francisco 49ers' matchups. They'll kick off the season in Melbourne, Australia, against the Los Angeles Rams.

Both teams are projected to make the playoffs once again in 2026. The Rams have the shortest odds in the NFC to make the postseason, while the 49ers are fourth on FanDuel Sportsbook.

The Rams are the current Super Bowl favorites. Obviously, plenty can change between May 13 and January 13, but the addition of Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson turned one of the biggest weaknesses in the NFL into a strength.

The Niners have the eighth-best odds to reach the Super Bowl. Oddsmakers are high on San Francisco. They made a couple of offseason acquisitions that will keep them among the best in the NFC. Then you factor in getting players like Fred Warner and Nick Bosa back from injury and the impact they can make.

It would not be surprising if Week 1 were a playoff preview, and potentially an NFC Championship preview. As for Week 1, the Rams are slight favorites over the 49ers. The spread is -2.5, with the total on the game listed at 49.5. The total is telling. Despite defensive improvements, we're talking about two of the best offenses in the NFL. In an international game, we've seen these games fly over the total. The least surprising outcome in Australia would be a high-scoring affair between two of the best offensive minds in the sport.