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The San Francisco 49ers vs. Washington Redskins betting line had the road team favored in Washington with a line that has remained steady all week at -3.5
Sportsbook.com Line & Total: San Francisco -3.5 (-115) & 37.5
Opening Line & Total: Niners -3.5 & 38.5
Slumping Washington looks to end a three-game losing skid on Sunday when it hosts a sizzling-hot San Francisco team riding a five-game winning streak.
The rebuilt Redskins figure to have more issues moving the ball against the 49ers, who have emerged as one of the best defenses in the NFL. San Francisco has also been one of the league’s best road teams this year, pulling off upsets in Philadelphia and Detroit and also winning as an underdog in Cincinnati. Head coach Jim Harbaugh has gotten serviceable play out of QB Alex Smith, helping open things up for the Niners power running game. The ‘Skins defense hasn’t been torched this season, but they are allowing 4.5 yards per carry, and San Francisco RB Frank Gore is averaging 6.5 YPC during a four-game streak of 125+ rushing yards. The 49ers are 6-0-1 ATS this season, while the Redskins haven’t covered at home since Week 1, going 0-3 ATS.
This has been a pretty evenly-matched series, with the teams splitting the past six meetings. Alex Smith hasn’t faced Washington since his rookie year in 2005 when he was 8-of-16 for 92 yards, 0 TD and 1 INT in a 52-17 loss. Although Smith has thrown for just 181 yards per game this season, he has a great ratio of 9 TD and only 2 INT. He has managed the offense very well, as the 49ers have only six turnovers in seven games. The rushing attack now ranks sixth in the NFL (138 YPG), thanks to 754 yards (189 YPG) over the past four weeks. Gore has 527 of those rushing yards, also scoring four times in these four contests.
San Francisco has the top-ranked scoring defense in the league (15.3 PPG) and also leads the NFL in rushing defense (73.4 YPG) holding five opponents to less than 80 yards. The 49ers have not allowed a single 100-yard rusher in 29 straight games, the NFL’s longest active streak. The passing defense has also played much better since Philly lit them up for 405 passing yards in Week 4. In three games since, opposing QBs are 68-for-119 (57%) for 218 YPG, 3 TD and 3 INT. San Francisco has at least two takeaways in six of seven games this season. The 49ers haven’t won six straight games since 1997 when Steve Young was their quarterback.
Washington’s offense hit rock-bottom in last week’s loss to Buffalo in Toronto, as head coach Mike Shanahan was shut out for the first time in his career. The ‘Skins rushed for
26 yards on 12 carries in the 23-0 defeat, and they have now been outrushed 505 to 160 over the past three contests (all losses). With top RB Tim Hightower out for the season with a torn ACL, Ryan Torain has been unable to step up as the starter. Since rushing for 135 yards at St. Louis, Torain has a total of 31 yards on 20 carries. Rookie RB Roy Helu is averaging 4.9 YPC this season, but has received only three total carries over the past three games. Washington grabbed former Dallas RB Tashard Choice off the waiver wire this past week, but he will not play Sunday because of a hamstring injury.
The passing game is also in disarray with top WR Santana Moss out (broken hand) and TEs Chris Cooley (finger/knee) and Fred Davis (foot) both banged up. Cooley is out for the season and Davis is questionable for Sunday’s game. QB John Beck is also dealing with the uncertainty of his blind-side protector LT Trent Williams who may not play because of a sprained ankle. This is not good news for Beck who was sacked for a franchise-record 10 times against the Bills.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
