GREG COTE’S NFL WEEK 1 THURSDAY PICK

49ERS (0-0) vs. RAMS (0-0) in Melbourne, Australia

Line: LAR by 3 1/2.

Cote’s pick: LAR, 27-24.

TV: 8:35 p.m., Thursday, Netflix.

G’day, mate. Welcome to the land Down Und-ah. The first of Week 1’s five division games also is the first ever NFL regular-season faceoff in Australia — and first of a record nine international games this season. League’s global takeover also will include three games in London and one each in Brazil, France, Germany, Mexico and Spain. This one is Breakfast in Melbourne, as it’s a 10:35 a.m. local start. San Fran and L.A. kick off the foreign slate at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. [Advisory: There will be no cacophony of chirping insects. Cricket in this case is the bat-and-ball sport that is the country’s second favorite after Australian Rules Football.] The Rams’ debut as the most-hyped team and the Super Bowl favorite — the hype centered on an already top-tier team adding Defensive POY Myles Garrett and luring star DT Aaron Donald out of retirement (though Donald did not make the trip). Good luck, Brock Purdy. How’s your O-line? The Niners also are real good, 12-5 last year despite a slew of injuries, but the bug hit again as starting DT Alfred Collins was lost for the year to a knee injury sustained in Australia. A contrast in travel strategy spices the game, with the Niners flying to Melbourne six days ahead of the intentionally late-arriving Rams. Bottom line: With the weight of the hype on L.A., no real home-field advantage here, and a fierce division rival in play, give me San Fran with the points.

(Notes: Betting line courtesy DraftKings as of Wednesday afternoon.)

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