49ers vs Cardinals: The Arizona Cardinals were in Kansas City last week while the San Francisco 49ers endured their first home shutout since 1977 at the hands of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
After Sunday’s results the NFC West race has been transformed into a three-team race. The competitors are Seattle (5-6), St. Louis (5-6), and the winner of tonight’s game.
SAN FRANCISCO (3-7) AT ARIZONA (3-7)
Sportsbook have the number on this one set as the 49ers -1 and the Total is 40.
The fantasy ride for quarterback Troy Smith could be short-lived but this week he gets one more chance. Coach Singletary said he wouldn’t hesitate to bench QB Smith if he’s playing a miserable game and Alex Smith is second on the depth chart.
TE Vernon Davis, who left the game against Tampa Bay with an ankle injury, should be fine but San Francisco needs to hitch its wagon to Frank Gore.
Gore (foot) is coming off his worst game of the season against Tampa Bay and it could have partly been due to his injury, but this week he is ready to go. Arizona’s front seven is beat up right now and Gore could be the key to opening up room for the passing game.
Arizona HC Whisenhunt is under pressure to produce on offense and critics are starting to question why the team won’t bring in an offensive co-ordinator. The Cardinals will go with Derek Anderson at QB but look for Whisenhunt to open the playbook and try to get WR Fitzgerald involved early.
Arizona has played 7 overs and 2 unders in its past nine games overall.
BETTING TRENDS
Joe Public bettors made huge gains in Week 11 and after the two big favs on Thanksgiving cashed tickets it looked like oddsmakers were getting ready for another bath. Sports betting can be an evil mistress, though, and the heaviest percentage bets for Sunday had a rough day.
Favorites went 4-7 ATS and San Francisco is getting the public nod for tonight.
- The 49ers have a 17-5 ATS record in their past 22 Monday Night game including a cover earlier this year vs. New Orleans.
Sportsbetting.com manager Brian Taylor stated that as of late Sunday evening they had 60% of the volume on San Francisco and 57% on the Over.
NFL PICKS
The winner of tonight’s game will still have a hill to climb if they hope to stay alive in the battle for the playoffs. The loser can start plotting a draft strategy and selecting candidates for the soon to be vacant head coaching post.
We have a hard time building an argument to support either side but project that the game will see enough scoring to go Over the total.
Pick: Take the Over
