Why Betting On The San Francisco 49ers In 2014 Is Smart

The San Francisco 49ers (12-4 SU, 11-5 ATS, 8-8 O/U) reached the NFC Championship game for the third consecutive season, but fell agonizingly short for the second time, but again, to the league’s eventual Super Bowl champion.

After losing to NFC West division rival Seattle 23- 17 in last season’s NFC title tilt, San Fran will enter the 2014 regular season looking to cap off a quest they’ve fallen just short of completing three straight years.

Betting On The San Francisco 49ers To Win the 2015 Super Bowl

At a surprising +750, the San Francisco 49ers are undoubtedly a value-packed selection to cash in on the season-long Super Bowl futures odds a I expect them to once again be one of the top two or three contenders to win both, the conference crown and league championship.

We learned 13 valuable things from Jim Harbaugh's Sunday press conference. READ: http://t.co/QJW3VFG6kJ pic.twitter.com/S9dDa3LF63

— #49ersCamp (@49ers) July 27, 2014

In addition to wining 12 games last season, San Francisco was also an absolute beast when it came to cashing in for its betting backers, ranking second (to Seattle ) in ATS wins, thanks mostly to their consistently overpowering defense.

San Francisco ranked seventh in total defense, including ninth against the pass (222.8 ypg) and a stellar fourth against the run (95.9 ypg). The Niners allowed just 17.0 points per game, good for third-best in the league.

The team closed out the 2013 NFL season ranked 24th in offense, but that was due to their pitiful 30th-ranked passing attack, not their third-ranked rushing attack.

#49ers RB LaMichael James sustained a dislocated elbow at practice, per source. Expected to be sidelined one month.

— Eric Branch (@Eric_Branch) July 27, 2014

The Niners added safety Jimmie Ward with the 30th pick in the NFL Draft before nabbing running back Carols Hyde and center Marcus martin in the second round. San Fran also added veteran wide receivers Brandon Lloyd and Kassim Osgood in free agency and polarizing tackle Jonathan Martin via a trade with Miami .

Betting On The San Francisco 49ers To Win the NFC West

• San Francisco 49ers +140
• Seattle Seahawks +130
• Arizona Cardinals +700
• St. Louis Rams +700

Analysis: The 49ers finished second to Seattle in the powerful NFC West after winning the division in each of the previous two seasons. Nevertheless, you can fully expect the Niners to have one of the best chances to dethrone the Seahawks in 2014.

#49ersCamp linebacker drills. https://t.co/iNECHiNzIF

— #49ersCamp (@49ers) July 27, 2014

San Francisco has been a model of consistency under head coach Jim Harbaugh going 12-8 SU and 12-5-3 ATS in their last 20 games against their NFC West division rivals. I’m fully expecting the Niners to end up in a two-team race with Seattle for the division title, although I will admit that I won’t be surprised if a resurgent Arizona Cardinals franchise somehow makes its way into the race.

At a solid, but not stunning, +140, the Niners are a solid pick to win the NFC West – unless you like Seattle that is.

Betting On The San Francisco 49ers To Win In Week One

• San Francisco -4.5 at Dallas
• Over/Under 48.5

Analysis: There’s not a whole lot of sense in me wasting time with some long-winded explanation on why I like the Niners to pound the dysfunctional Dallas Cowboys into submission in their Week 1 matchup, so here goes the short version.

The 49ers are 3-2 SU and 2-2-1 ATS in its last five road games against the Cowboys, though they haven’t visited Dallas since back in 2008. The Niners are also 16-4 SU and 13-6-1 ATS in its last 20 games dating back to 2011 as a favorite of six points or less and Dallas has quite a ways to go if they want to get out of the perpetual state of mediocrity that has led them to three straight 8-8 seasons.

Frisco is also 5-5 SU and 4-4-2 ATS in its last 10 games against NFC East opponents and simply put…they’re the better team on both sides of the ball. I fully expect San Francisco to win this one by a touchdown at the very least.

My Pick: San Francisco -4.5 Points

San Francisco 49ers Betting Tips

The Niners recorded a bankroll-boosting 8-2 SU and 7-1-2 ATS mark in it s last 10 road games and I think they’re going to be a great road pick again this coming season, thanks to their stout defense.

San Francisco is almost a virtual lock to cash in when they’re either large favorites or very narrow favorites. When the Niners are huge favorites of at least eight points, they’ve racked up a blistering 18-1-1 SU mark and positive 11-7-2 ATS mark over their last 20 such games. When the Niners are slight favorites of four points or less, they’ve also been a consistent cash cow in positing stellar 17-3 SU and 14-5-1 ATS marks over its last 20 such games.

I think the Niners will have more than their share of low-scoring affairs this coming season as they shut down Dallas, St. Louis (twice), Washington, Arizona (twice) and Arizona (once).

San Francisco could end up in surprising high-scoring matchups against Chicago , Philadelphia, Kansas City, Denver and New Orleans and I expect them to rout Dallas, St. Louis (once) and Washington.

In the end, you had better believe that the San Francisco 49ers are going to have one of the best 2-4 chances of winning the NFC Championship and Super Bowl 49 title and one of the top two chances of winning the NFC West division title.

Despite their failure to win the Super Bowl in each of the last three years, this franchise is being built to really contend for years to come.

San Francisco 49ers Projected 2014 Starters

NFL Odds to win Super Bowl 49

• Seattle Seahawks +525
• Denver Broncos +640
• San Francisco 49ers +700
• New England Patriots +900
• Green Bay Packers +1200
• New Orleans Saints +1600
• Indianapolis Colts +2000
• Philadelphia Eagles +2700
• Cincinnati Bengals +3100
• Pittsburgh Steelers +3500
• Baltimore Ravens +3700
• Atlanta Falcons +3800
• Chicago Bears +3800
• NY Giants +4000
• Arizona Cardinals +4200
• Carolina Panthers +4400
• Kansas City Chiefs +4400
• San Diego Chargers +4500
• St. Louis Rams +5000
• Detroit Lions +5000
• Washington Redskins +5200
• Dallas Cowboys +6000
• Houston Texans +6000
• Miami Dolphins +6000
• NY Jets +7500
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers +7500
• Cleveland Browns +9000
• Minnesota Vikings +1100
• Buffalo Bills +12500
• Tennessee Titans +20000
• Oakland Raiders +25000
• Jacksonville Jaguars +30000