by Al McMordie
Tuesday, Sep 03, 2024The San Francisco 49ers had a tumultuous offseason. Both Brandon Aiyuk and Trent Williams demanded to have their contracts re-negotiated. Aiyuk signed a 4-year extension worth $120 million last week. And then, today, Trent Williams agreed to a 3-year 82.66 million deal. With those two key players in the fold, I'll pull the trigger on San Francisco to win the Super Bowl. The current odds are +625 at Caesars Sportsbook.
Last season, San Francisco lost the Super Bowl, in overtime, to Kansas City. The 49ers might have won that game, but for coach Kyle Shanahan's perplexing (and mathematically incorrect) decision to receive the ball first in the overtime session, after the 49ers won the coin toss.
This season, the two favorites are Kansas City and San Francisco. The Chiefs' odds (+575) are slightly shorter than the 49ers' odds, and I agree with the oddsmakers that they should be the two favorites. The primary reason is that each team plays in a relatively-weak division, which reduces the strength of their schedule. I don't believe any of the other teams in the AFC West (Chargers, Raiders, Broncos) will make the playoffs. And in the NFC West, only the Rams will be in contention. So, the Chiefs and 49ers stand a good chance to have the most wins in their conference, and thereby earn the all-important Bye into the quarterfinal round of the Playoffs.
Importantly, the 49ers will play most of their difficult opponents at home. This season, San Francisco has 6 games against the teams I rank as the 10 strongest (not including San Francisco): Jets, Chiefs, Cowboys, Packers, Bills and Lions. Only the games vs. Green Bay and Buffalo are on the road. In contrast, the Detroit Lions -- who I rank as the 2nd strongest NFC team -- have 4 of their 6 toughest games on the road (Cowboys, Packers, Texans and 49ers). It's certainly possible that the #1 seed in the NFC Conference will be determined by the Week 17 Monday Night game between the 49ers and Lions. And the fact that the game will be played at Levi's Stadium, in Santa Clara -- where the 49ers have won 21 of their last 25 games -- provides an edge to the 49ers.
Take San Francisco at +625 odds to win the 2025 Super Bowl.
Good luck, as always...
Al McMordie
Last season, San Francisco lost the Super Bowl, in overtime, to Kansas City. The 49ers might have won that game, but for coach Kyle Shanahan's perplexing (and mathematically incorrect) decision to receive the ball first in the overtime session, after the 49ers won the coin toss.
This season, the two favorites are Kansas City and San Francisco. The Chiefs' odds (+575) are slightly shorter than the 49ers' odds, and I agree with the oddsmakers that they should be the two favorites. The primary reason is that each team plays in a relatively-weak division, which reduces the strength of their schedule. I don't believe any of the other teams in the AFC West (Chargers, Raiders, Broncos) will make the playoffs. And in the NFC West, only the Rams will be in contention. So, the Chiefs and 49ers stand a good chance to have the most wins in their conference, and thereby earn the all-important Bye into the quarterfinal round of the Playoffs.
Importantly, the 49ers will play most of their difficult opponents at home. This season, San Francisco has 6 games against the teams I rank as the 10 strongest (not including San Francisco): Jets, Chiefs, Cowboys, Packers, Bills and Lions. Only the games vs. Green Bay and Buffalo are on the road. In contrast, the Detroit Lions -- who I rank as the 2nd strongest NFC team -- have 4 of their 6 toughest games on the road (Cowboys, Packers, Texans and 49ers). It's certainly possible that the #1 seed in the NFC Conference will be determined by the Week 17 Monday Night game between the 49ers and Lions. And the fact that the game will be played at Levi's Stadium, in Santa Clara -- where the 49ers have won 21 of their last 25 games -- provides an edge to the 49ers.
Take San Francisco at +625 odds to win the 2025 Super Bowl.
Good luck, as always...
Al McMordie
