Seattle Seahawks +8 @ San Francisco 49ers O/U 38 – Week 7 Preview and Prediction
A crucial battle for the NFC West division lead will kick-off the festivities for NFL week 7 when the upstart Seattle Seahawks (4-2) land in iconic Candlestick Park to play the San Francisco 49ers (4-2) on Thursday night.
The 49ers look to quickly turn things around against co-division leader Seattle after coming off their worst defeat under Coach Jim Harbaugh, losing to the New York Giants 26-3 in a rematch of last year’s NFC championship game. The 49ers were heavy preseason favourites to repeat as division champs after running away with the title last year, but this year’s NFC West is much closer than expected with a three way tie for first (Seattle, San Francisco and Arizona at 4-2) and Jeff Fisher’s Saint Louis Rams team (3-3) nipping at their collective heels.
Pete Carroll and his budding star rookie quarterback, Russell Wilson, are coming off a rousing 24-23 fourth quarter comeback victory over Tom Brady’s New England Patriots. The Hawks were thought to be rebuilding with a rookie quarterback winning the job in training camp but the former University of Wisconsin standout has now defeated two of the games’ premiere quarterbacks in Brady and Aaron Rodgers. He has also stacked up victories against then highly regarded Tony Romo and Cam Newton.
In the victory Wilson was an impressive 16/27 for 293 yards (10.9 yards per completion), 0 interceptions and 3 touchdowns for a solid quarterback rating of 91.4. On the other hand, Alex Smith had one of his worst outings under Coach Harbaugh going 19/30 for 200 yards (6.7 yards per completion), 3 interceptions and 0 touchdowns for an abysmal QBR of 24.8.
Seattle @ San Francisco Under 38 (betting prediction)
The Seahawks are heavy underdogs currently sitting at +8 and I am tempted to take the points, but I feel the better play here is under the posted total of 38. Frank Gore was held to a season low 8 carries for 36 yards last Sunday; combine this unbalanced play calling with Smith’s miserable numbers and I think the 49ers come out pounding the ball with the run game in an attempt to wear down a strong Seattle Defense. The Seahawks held RB Frank Gore to 59 yards on 22 carries in a 33-17 loss at Candlestick last year, and had it not been for 2 fourth quarter punt returns for touchdowns by Ted Ginn, the game was much closer than the final score dictated.
Conversely, Seahawk RB Marshawn Lynch was held to a season-low 41 yards on 15 carries Sunday; he has gained 62 yards on 23 rushes in two games at Candlestick. Seattle amassed a season high 368 yards on offense last week against New England so I expect to see some drop off against a truly elite San Francisco Defense.
2 of the last 3 games in this series have gone over the number, but San Francisco is 0-5 O/U in its last 5 Thursday night games. The ‘under’ is an NFL best at 5-1 thus far for Seattle and 3-0 on the road. San Francisco is 3-2-1 to the ‘under’ after six weeks and 1-1-1 at home. Take the ‘under’. San Francisco 17 Seattle 10.
Play: Under 38
I also really like a teaser play with Sea +15/Under 45!
You can find the odds listed above at 5Dimes.eu for this game.
San Francisco 49ers betting • Seattle Seahawks betting • week 7