Dr. Bob Previews 49'ERS (-1.5) Vs. SEAHAWKS

Seattle 20 SAN FRANCISCO (-1.5) 19

01:05 PM Pacific Time Sunday, Sep-20

The 49ers' upset of the Cardinals is a bit misleading given that the Niners averaged just 3.4 yards per play in that game while allowing 4.9 yppl. There is no doubt that Mike Singletary has the defense playing with intensity and there is enough talent to turn that intensity into a better than average unit, but the 49ers need more from their offense.

Arizona stacked the line of scrimmage to stop Frank Gore and they did, but quarterback Shaun Hill has to be better at taking advantage of those 8 man fronts. Hill is now 8-3 as a starting quarterback and he played well when he needed to on the game winning drive, so I won't make too much out of one bad offensive performance by the Niners.

Seattle killed a horrible Rams team last week, out-gained St. Louis 6.4 yppl to 4.3 yppl in the process. Seattle certainly looks like they'll be a force offensively, but I still only rate their defense as average after really struggling to defend the pass last season.

Looking good against St. Louis is not enough evidence to suggest that Seattle has fixed their defensive problems, but they should be good enough to limit the 49ers.

My ratings actually favor San Francisco by 3 1/2 points in this game, but Seattle applies to a 95-38-3 ATS statistical match-up indicator that will have me leaning with the Seahawks.

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