49ers Seahawks Betting – 49ers Open On The Road Against NFC West-Division Rival
After watching Kurt Warner and the Arizona Cardinals dominate the NFC West for the past couple of seasons, the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks feel they are finally ready to challenge the desert birds for the division title. The Cardinals lost several key player personnel in the offense, while the 49ers and Seahawks spent the past couple of seasons rebuilding. San Francisco and Seattle open their regular season Sunday in a division matchup that may very well go a long way in setting the tone for both teams early this season.
NFL Betting: San Francisco 49ers @ Seattle Seahawks
Online Sports Betting Odds: San Francisco - 3
Why To Bet On The 49ers?
For whatever criticism San Francisco head coach Mike Singletary has drawn over the past couple of seasons, there is no doubt that he is a leader. A former linebacker with the character and integrity to challenge his players for the very best, Singletary may finally have enough talent to get over that .500 mark, which may be enough to get in to the playoffs in a relatively mediocre division. Quarterback Alex Smith will be the undisputed number one come opening day, and that should help his confidence as he manages the game rather than being forced to go out there and air it out in an effort to secure his job. The 49ers will test a Seahawks defense that struggled mightily last season with a heavy dose of running from bell cow backs Frank Gore and Glen Coffee, and if San Francisco can open an early lead, expect for Singletary to order his defense to bring the heat on Seahawks’ veteran quarterback Matt Hasselbeck.
Why To Bet On The Seahawks?
The Seahawks have struggled on both sides of the ball the past couple of seasons, even despite that they boast several quality playmakers on offense and defense. First-year head coach Pete Carroll has preached football betting fundamentals, and is looking to achieve greater success in his second go-around as an NFL head coach. With Charlie Whitehurst waiting in the wings, the pressure will be on Hasselbeck to take his game back to the level that it was at when Seattle made the Super Bowl in 2005, and he should have enough passing options to do so. The Seahawks have shored up a leaky defense, and will be aiming to set the tone for their season in front of their home fans this weekend.
How The Game Will Play Out
Both the 49ers and Seahawks have made enough improvements that they can be considered legitimate contenders for this season, which should make for an intriguing week one match up. San Francisco may be further along however, with the type of offensive rushing game that combined with a solid defense has been a proven recipe for betting on NFL success. Seattle will have trouble stopping Gore and Coffee, and that will open the skies for the Alex Smith play-action pass.
49ers Seahawks Betting Pick: San Francisco
