Betting Trends Go Against San Francisco 49ers: Our Pick
When we look at the San Francisco 49ers vs. Minnesota Vikings game this coming weekend, everything seems to suggest a Minnesota win and cover of the -6 ½ point line found at BetUS.com. So what is Gambling911.com's pick on this game? Read and find out.
The Vikings beat San Francisco in 2007 by 20 points, on the road no less. They have won 4 of the last 5 games in this series, all of those being blowouts.
The Vikings have long been a run-stuffing defense and that is no different this year as they have yet to allow a rushing touchdown this season. If Minnesota can stop Niners RB Frank Gore that could force QB Shaun Hill to win the game. Hill has been solid this year, but he has yet to face a pass rush as good as the Vikings', which ranks third in the NFL with seven sacks.
Then there are these stats that seem to go against San Francisco:
The 49ers are 1-7 ATS in their last 8 games after accumulating less than 150 yards passing in their previous game.
In road games against NFC North opponents, San Francisco is 4-14 Straight Up since 1992. They have also only won 19 of 45 over this period of time in road games after two consecutive wins.
But we can't help but think this is a different San Francisco 49ers team that could defy these odds.
And it's not as if some of the trends don't work out in the 49ers favor.
The Vikings are just 3-10 ATS in their last 13 games following a S.U. win and they are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games after allowing less than 15 points in their previous game.
While both teams sit at 2-0, the 49er's 2-0 record appears more impressive on the surface. They have beaten last year's NFC Champion Arizona Cardinals on the road during Week 1 and a Seattle Seahawks team that shut out the St. Louis Rams one week earlier. The Vikings, on the other hand, beat two of the worst teams in the league, Cleveland and Detroit, respectively, and they didn't exactly do it in the most convincing of fashions.
San Francisco's defense ranks 7th in the league. While the Vikings Adrian Peterson managed 180 yards rushing in Week One and added another 92 in Week Two, he was held to just three yards on 14 carries the last time these two teams played one another.
Favre has been sacked seven times already this season due to an ineffective offensive line in pass-protection.
While 49ers running back Frank Gore injured his ankle last week, it appears as if he is going to play. How effective he is remains to be seen.
The betting action on this game remains even and with good reason.
Gambling911.com is going out on a limb here and will pick the Minnesota Vikings to at least cover the +6 ½ spread found at BetUS.com. We should also note that the 49ers odds of winning the 2010 Super Bowl were listed at an impressive +3500 or a $100 bet would pay out $3500.
Christopher Costigan, Gambling911.com Publisher
