The San Francisco 49ers showed some pride and rode a historic game from George Kittle en route to an upset win over the Denver Broncos in Week 14. The Niners will need every bit of that pride as they host the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday and try to avenge getting their rears handed to them two weeks ago. Here we discuss the odds and analysis from a betting perspective.
When: Sunday December 16th, 2018 at 1:05pm PST (FOX)
Where: Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, California
Line: Seahawks -4, total at 44
Seattle Seahawks
Though the game was closer than the final score, the Seattle Seahawks suffocated the Minnesota Vikings with stifling defense on Monday night and have now won four in a row. The Seahawks rank 8th in weighted offense at 11.4 percent and have the 29th and 1st ranked passing and rushing offenses, respectively.
Seattle has the 18th ranked weighted defense at 2.0 percent and the 17th and 16th ranked passing and rushing defenses, respectively.
Russell Wilson is 10th with a DYAR of 587 and 11th with a total QBR of 66.0. The Seahawks are 8th with a weighted DVOA of 13.5 percent, 8-3-2 against the spread (ATS), 6-7 to the over/under this season and have covered four and pushed once in their last five contests.
The 49ers' solid defense and big plays from tight end George Kittle helped put a damper on the Broncos' playoff hopes but will that be enough to pull off two consecutive upsets to teams in playoff contention? The Niners rank 27th in weighted offense at -16.9 percent and have the 16th and 8th ranked passing and rushing offenses, respectively.
San Francisco has the 21st ranked weighted defense at 4.1 percent and the 13th and 12th ranked passing and rushing defenses, respectively.
Nick Mullens has a DYAR of 168 and total QBR of 58.8. The 49ers are 31st with a weighted DVOA of -24.1 percent, 4-9 ATS, 7-6 to the over/under this season.
Prediction
Clearly, Kyle Shanahan and Robert Saleh are doing everything in their power to prove themselves and win games, draft position be damned, and they will be highly motivated to try and get even for their getting trounced in Seattle two weeks ago. We expect this game to be closer than their last contest with improved defense from the 49ers which could lead to a lower scoring game, and lean toward the under.
Seattle will be coming off of a short week but that might not be enough of a disadvantage to a hot Seahawks team that has won four straight and whose last three losses have come to the Chargers and twice to the Rams. Seattle has beaten the 49ers in ten straight games and has covered ATS in twelve of the last fourteen contests between these teams, including the last two match-ups, and we foresee continued success for the Seahawks against the Niners both straight up and ATS this week. Pick: Seahawks -4
4-8 ATS
8-4 SU
