A massive NFC West matchup awaits on Thursday Night Football, as the sputtering 2-3 San Francisco 49ers head to Seattle to take on the Division leading Seahawks (3-2), in a clash that could have massive ramifications come the end of the season. With both teams coming in off a loss, and the NFC West tight early in the season, both teams will be desperate to come away with the win on Thursday evening. Buckle up for this one as we bring you our full preview and tips!
NFL Week 6 Preview & Betting Tips
Seattle Seahawks vs San Francisco 49ers
Lumen Field, Friday 11th October, 11:15am (AEDT)
Last Week
Despite taking on an east coast team in week 5, the Seahawks didn’t have their usual advantage of playing on the west coast, as they had to travel back from their Monday Night Football loss to the Lions in week 4. With the Giants coming off Thursday Night Football, the Giants had a solid rest advantage heading into the week 5 game in Seattle, and probably should have factored into my handicap of the game. The Seahawks looked flat from the outset, and couldn’t withstand the Giants’ pass rush, who managed to be in Geno Smith’s face all game. Geno did his best, throwing for 284 yards and a touchdown, as well as rushing for 72 yards, but it wasn’t enough to get the win, eventually going down 29-20.
The 49ers blew a 23-10 halftime lead against another NFC West rival, the Arizona Cardinals. The 49ers appeared to be playing with their food a little throughout the first half, and it came back to bite them after kicker Jake Moody went down with an injury, making their play calling somewhat limited as they couldn’t kick field goals. Three turnovers at costly moments proved the difference, with a Jordan Mason fumble deep inside the Cardinals’ redzone the straw that broke the camels back, as the Cardinals came back to win 24-23.
Injury Report
Seattle Seahawks
Uchenna Nwosu (LB) – OUT
George Fant (OT) – OUT
Julian Love (FS) – Questionable
Byron Murphy II (DT) – Questionable
Tariq Woolen (CB) – Questionable
Derick Hall (LB) – Questionable
49ers
Talanoa Hufanga (SAF) – OUT
Jake Moody (K) – OUT
Ricky Pearsall (WR) – OUT
Yetur Gross-Matos / Drake Jackson (DE) – OUT
Curtis Robinson / Dre Greenlaw (LB) – OUT
Javon Hargrave (NT) – OUT
Christian McCaffrey / Elijah Mitchell (RB) – OUT
Ji’Ayir Brown (SAF) – Questionable
Charvarius Ward (CB) – Questionable
Match Preview
The 49ers have a tremendous recent record over the Seahawks, winning the past five games between the rivals by an average margin of a little over 15 points a game. They met quite late in the season last year, first squaring off in week 12 on Thanksgiving, as the 49ers closed as 7-point favourites on the road, with the total closing 43. With the Seahawks missing Kenneth Walker, the 49ers cruised to a 31-13 victory. They met again just two weeks later in the Bay area, with the 49ers closing massive 14.5-point favourites. Drew Lock started for the Seahawks and managed to keep this game closer than their first meeting, however the 49ers had too much class, running out 28-16 winners.
Looking at this clash, the 49ers opened as 3.5-point favourites on the lookahead, before their loss to the Cardinals saw them re-open as just 3-point favourites. This number didn’t last long, with 49ers backers coming in and taking the 3’s quickly, to where the spread now sits at 3.5. This is a noticeable downgrade on the 49ers from last season, after closing 7-point favourites in Seattle last season. I am down on the 49ers this season, with my numbers suggesting there is slight value on the Seahawks in this battle. I’m slightly concerned about the injuries to the Seahawks, which are to the secondary and the offensive line, however Head Coach Mike Macdonald showed last year with the Ravens that he knows how to slow this 49ers offense down.
Looking towards the total, it opened 47 on the lookahead, before dropping to 46.5 at re-open. This move wasn’t agreed upon by the market, as overs money has poured in all week, to where we now sit at 49. This seems high to me, and I would make a fair total under 47 here, so I am intrigued by the under. I’m worried I may be a little too high on the Seahawks defence, however I’m trusting Macdonald to have a plan to shut the 49ers offense down to a degree here.
Looking towards a prop bet, I like Deebo Samuel to have a big game this week. Throughout his first three games this season (Samuel missed week 3), Samuel was the number one for the 49ers. Last week, that changed, and Deebo only managed 1 reception and 11 yards. That changes this week, with Deebo being re-integrated into the offense, against a Seahawks team he has dominated the past few games. Give me the Deebo over.
Prop Bet: Deebo Samuel (over) 55.5 receiving yards - $1.88 at Ladbrokes (1.5u)
Under 49.5 points
$1.91 (2 Units)
