Chargers 49ers Betting – Volek Becomes The Point Of Focus… For One Night
The San Diego Chargers stunk up the joint at New Orleans. They’ll try to be a little sharper as their preseason journey comes to a close.
NFL Betting: San Diego Chargers @ San Francisco 49ers
Online Betting Odds: 49ers -3
Why To Bet On The Chargers
Billy Volek threw two interceptions in San Diego's previous preseason game against the New Orleans Saints. The veteran backup - who has occupied the No. 2 slot for the Chargers behind Philip Rivers in recent years - was plainly a fish out of water against the defending champions. Now, however, Volek will receive the vast majority of reps as his team's exhibition schedule comes to a close. Volek, it should be said, helped the Chargers advance to the 2007 (season, not year) AFC Championship Game by carrying the Bolts past the Indianapolis Colts in the divisional playoff round. Volek stepped in when Rivers went down and led a late touchdown drive to cement San Diego's advantage. Volek, all things considered, is a decent backup who should be able to rise above the other backup players who will take to the gridiron at Candlestick Park. A solid performance by Volek in a game largely bereft of starters (who are resting up for the start of the regular season) is San Diego's ticket to a preseason win.
Why To Bet On The 49ers
San Francisco's backup quarterback, David Carr, will be looked to for offensive production in this game by head coach Mike Singletary. What will hamper Carr – formerly the starting quarterback for the Houston Texans – is that a 49er team intent on running the ball will not want to give too many touches to its backfield workhorse, Frank Gore. The Niners need to gear up for the regular season. Given their intent to impose their physicality on opponents, they're probably going to pull back from that approach on Thursday night. Carr will have to make vertical pass plays, deep downfield strikes, if the 49ers are to score against the Chargers and pull out a win. Naturally, the limitations likely to affect San Francisco's offense also mean that the Niners' defense will have to register a few takeaways against Billy Volek. Straight-ahead pressure from the base front four will enable the Niners' defense to make an impact against San Diego. On offense, the Niners might have to use some finesse in this game, but on defense, that’s where brawn might enable San Francisco to prevail.
How The Game Will Play Out
Volek will have more success and crispness than Carr, and he’ll shrug off the bad performance against New Orleans. Meanwhile, the Chargers – in a game where all four coordinators will not employ complicated schemes – should have more muscle up front against the 49ers’ second-string players, particularly in the second half. San Diego will shut down San Francisco’s running game and dare Carr to hit vertical shots downfield. Take San Diego as the preseason winds down on the West Coast, and two teams with playoff aspirations shelve their more sophisticated game plans.
Chargers 49ers Betting Pick: Chargers +3
