San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks Prediction, Preview, and Odds
The rejuvenated San Francisco 49ers travel to division-rival Seattle on Thanksgiving Night to take on the Seahawks in a game with division and playoff implications. The 49ers have recovered nicely from a three-game losing streak to win two straight games coming out of their bye week. The Seahawks are now 6-4 and a game behind the 49ers after getting beaten for the second time this season by the Rams on Sunday. The opening kick is scheduled for 8:20 PM EST.
For your daily picks in College Football Picks, the NHL, the NBA, and NFL Picks, check out all my premium picks with at least two per day. My Best Bet of the Week can be as low as $19.99 (usually $50) if you use this link. Take advantage of this as this comes with a profit guarantee. Win or get the money back in credit!
Niners Back in Business
The San Francisco 49ers were everyone's favorite to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl after winning each of their first five games this season with QB Brock Purdy and RB Christian McCaffrey both looking like MVP candidates. Then the injury bug struck the 49ers and they lost three straight games entering their bye week. The return to health of LT Eric Williams and WR Deebo Samuel seems to have revitalized both Purdy and the 49ers offense. After throwing five interceptions in the team's three-game losing streak, Purdy has completed 78.4% of his passes for 629 yards and six touchdowns without an interception in the two games since the offense returned to health. On Sunday, Purdy had a perfect passer rating vs. the Tampa Bay Bucs in a 27-14 win. Purdy threw three touchdowns in the game, including a 76-yard strike to Brandon Aiyuk. Purdy was 21-of-25 on the day for 333 yards.
“We had to get back to ‘We’re going to take it,’” he said. “That’s the chip I was talking about. We had to get back to that.”
The 49ers come into this matchup as one of the most balanced teams in football. The Niners are 3rd in the NFL in total offense this season. They are also sixth rushing the football and eighth through the air. SF is sixth in the league in third-down conversions as well. Defensively, the Niners are fifth in total defense, 11th against the run and 15th against the pass. Their pass defense certainly took a hit when star safety Talanoa Hufanga tore his ACL in the win over Tampa Bay. SF is just 23rd in third-down defense this season. The Niners are the second-best team in the NFL in turnover differential as well. They have hurt themselves with penalties, however. The Niners are ranked just 27th in the league in penalties per game.
Key Injuries: S Talanoa Hufanga (knee) is out. G Aaron Banks (toe), G Spencer Burford (knee) are doubtful. DT Javon Hargrave (thumb), CB Shemar Jean-Charles (shoulder), WR Ray-Ray McCloud (rib) are questionable.
Seahawks Need to Solve the Niners
The Seattle Seahawks fell to 6-4 on the season after losing a tight contest in LA to the Rams on Sunday, 17-16. The Seahawks held a 16-7 lead entering the fourth quarter but starting quarterback Geno Smith had to leave the game following a late hit by the Rams' Aaron Donald. Smith hurt his throwing arm on the play after passing for 233 yards up to that point. With Smith out, the Seahawks' offense went stagnant and allowed the Rams to creep back in the game and complete the season sweep of the Seahawks thanks to a last-second field goal. The loss kept the Seahawks from remaining tied with the Niners for first place in the NFC West Division. The Seahawks also lost starting running back Kenneth Walker III early in the game due to an oblique injury.
“Just trying to go out there and make plays and get us in position to win the game,” said Smith, who isn't sure if he’ll play against the 49ers on Thanksgiving night. “It was still hurting. Obviously didn’t do enough.”
The Seahawks will need all their key pieces on Thursday night against the tough 49ers defense. Seattle comes in with the 18th-ranked total offense in the NFL. They are just 25th on the ground but a solid 13th through the air. The Seahawks have been terrible on third down, however, ranking 30th in the NFL. Defensively, the Seahawks are 23rd in total defense, 17th against the run and 21st against the pass. They, like the 49ers, have struggled to stop teams on third down, ranking 29th in the league. The Seahawks have done a good job with turnovers, ranking 9th in the NFL in turnover differential. They are, however, the most penalized team in football.
Key Injuries: WR Jake Bobo (shoulder), RB Kenneth Walker III (oblique), S Jerrick Reed II (knee) are all doubtful. QB Geno Smith (right elbow), WR Dareke Young (abdomen), WR Tyler Lockett (hamstring), S Jamal Adams (knee/NIR-Resting player), CB Riq Woolen (shoulder), CB Tre Brown (foot), CB/S Coby Bryant (toe) are all questionable.
Best Bets for this Game
Full-Game Side Bet
Insiders Status:
Rating:
The Niners have now won three straight in this head-to-head matchup and won the games by an average of over 15 points. The Seahawks come into this contest having thrown the ball the sixth most times per game in the NFL. They will now be doing that with a less-than-100% Geno Smith. All indications are that Smith will get the start but the early returns are not as favorable for WR TJ Lockett, S Jamal Adams, and RB Kenneth Walker III. Playing the Niners, especially as they are playing right now, is hard enough but trying to compete against them with a banged-up squad is more than this Seahawks team can handle. Purdy was right at home last season in the team's win at Seattle, a legendarily challenging home-field advantage, so I don't expect him to have difficulties on Thursday night either. Look for the Niners to pick up a double-digit win here.
Take SF -6.5
Prediction: San Franicsco -6.5
Full-Game Total Pick
Insiders Status:
Rating:
The Niners have allowed a total of just 17 points in the last two weeks and that includes a Jaguars offense that had been playing its best football of the season. The opportunistic 49ers' defense now gets to pin its ears back against a Seahawks team that throws the ball over 65% of their offensive snaps. Smith, who will likely be doing most of the throwing, has a sore elbow and his offensive line is banged up. On top of that, the Seahawks will be most likely without their starting running back, Walker, who has an oblique issue and is unlikely to return in a short week. This seems like a game that will be dictated by the 49ers fearsome defensive line. SF will score more than enough to win but don't be surprised to see them keep the Seahawks well below 20 points in this one.
Take the under.
Prediction: Under 43.5
Mark has been a sports fanatic since childhood. He is also an avid follower of sports analytics and has used it in his own betting analysis for over two decades. Now we have Mark on our team here at Stat Salt. He holds degrees in marketing, broadcasting, and English and uses this vast array of assets to dissect and analyze game matchups. Mark will provide you with a wide variety of statistics to consider and a strong opinion in each matchup that he covers. Please follow him daily for an up-to-the-minute analysis of all the important games.
