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NFL Playoff Predictions 2023: San Francisco 49ers Futures Odds and Picks

by Spencer Toth - 1/12/2023

San Francisco 49ers:

Odds to win the Super Bowl: +550

Odds to win the NFC: +180

Odds to make the Divisional Round: -550

The 49ers have had a roller coaster season, starting 3 different quarterbacks yet still finishing 13-4. They come into the postseason with +550 odds attached to their potential Super Bowl victory and are on a 10-game win streak dating back to October 23. They are the No. 2 seed in the NFC and will have their first two playoff games at home, before the NFC championship, which will likely be in Philadelphia. A strong defense and high-quality skilled players have been enough to carry this team despite the carousel at quarterback. It remains to be seen how they will react against the league’s best and if Brock Purdy can carry the 49ers to an improbable Super Bowl title.

San Francisco 49ers playoff predictions Brock Purdy

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Path to the Super Bowl:

After finishing as the No. 2 seed, the 49ers have a date with Seattle in the Wild Card round. A home game against a struggling Seattle team shouldn’t cause many concerns for San Francisco, but the quality in opposition ramps up following the first round. In the divisional round, the 49ers will likely be pitted against the Vikings or Cowboys before battling out the lone remaining NFC team in the NFC championship. It’s always bittersweet finishing in the No. 2 seed, as the possibility of a road NFC championship game after 2 straight home games is daunting.

Regular Season Recap:

The 49ers had a wild regular season and still managed to capture the No. 2 seed in the NFC. Second year QB Trey Lance was given the starting job over Jimmy Garoppolo after an offseason of speculation. Lance then got injured in Week 2, and the once benched Garoppolo took over. The 49ers sat at 3-4 through the first 7 weeks of the season before ripping off a 5-game win streak to move to 8-4, but then Garoppolo got injured and Mr. Irrelevant Purdy stepped up as the new signal caller. The 49ers didn’t miss a beat and kept the win streak going, extending it to 10 games heading into the postseason, 5 of which were with Purdy under center. The win streak was sparked by Christian McCaffrey’s arrival from Carolina, for an affordable handful of draft picks. The 49ers were able to lean on McCaffrey and Elijah Mitchell in the backfield, and they had Deebo Samuel making crazy runs after short catches. Purdy was able to slip in seamlessly thanks to the depth in the skill positions, and a dominant defense. The offense for San Francisco is good, but it’s their defense that has carried them on their red hot run. Nick Bosa is a shoe-in for DPOY, and leads the league with a whopping 18.5 sacks. The 49ers gave up a league low 277 points this season and have the ability to shut down the league's most potent attacks.

Playoff Outlook:

“Offense wins games, defense wins championships”- Bear Bryant. This quote perfectly sums up what the 49ers have built and where their aspirations lie. Anything short of their second Super Bowl trip in 4 years will be seen as a failure, and there is no doubt they have the talent to win. They rank 1st in interceptions, and points allowed, and have allowed the second least rushing yards in the league. Teams are forced to pass, which gives a chance for exceptional pass rushers to get their hands on the opposition's quarterback. In the playoffs, the star quarterbacks are often given a chance to shine, and Nick Bosa and co. will have plenty of chances to make game changing plays. The defense certainly deserves the praise they have received, but the offense has been surprisingly consistent considering the injuries sustained. It is very rare to see a team use 3 different starting quarterbacks and finish 13-4. Additionally, Samuel and Mitchell both missed time with ailments, while McCaffrey had to learn a whole new playbook midseason. This team has shown no signs of slowing down and will be eager to avenge their 2019 Super Bowl loss.

Best Bets:

Where do I begin? I am all in on the 49ers and truly believe they are the team to beat this year. Their stellar defense, combined with explosive offensive players, is a combination no other team in the NFL possesses. They are +550 to win the Super Bowl, and I am all over that. The 4th best odds for a team with the best defense and a competent offense feels like a gift, and they are my strongest pick to find victory in Glendale, Arizona. The second bet I’ll be making, as I detailed in the Eagles article, is for the Eagles and 49ers to meet in the NFC Championship Game at +135 odds. The 49ers should be able to easily swat aside the Seahawks in the Wild Card Round, and both the 49ers and Eagles will be favorites in the divisional round. Plus-money for a very plausible prop is not something you find often, and I’m all over it. Honestly, this section could be filled with a variety of bets and props, because the 49ers are the real deal, and they are my pick to win the Super Bowl.

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