San Francisco 49ers at New Orleans Saints Betting Pick and Prediction

Playoff seeding will be on the line when the New Orleans Saints host the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday afternoon. Both of these teams come into this game with a record of 10-2 and are tied along with Seattle for the top spot in the NFC. This game could be a potential preview of the NFC Championship Game that will be played in late January.

San Francisco suffered a crushing last-second defeat at the hands of the Baltimore Ravens in Week 13. The 49ers are also trying to hold off the surging Seattle Seahawks in the NFC West Division race.

New Orleans comes into this game having won three straight games, and it has a ton of confidence. The Saints are 5-1 at home this season, and they are traditionally tough to beat in the dome. New Orleans is a three-point favorite in this game.

Niners Need To Run The Ball Well

The San Francisco 49ers are the second-best rushing team in the NFL this season, and they will need to run the ball well in this game. San Francisco is averaging 148 rushing yards per game, but it is a little banged up at that position. Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is having a solid season for San Francisco, but passing the ball is not the 49ers’ forte.

Defense has also been a strength for the 49ers this season, and they can get pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Defensive end Arik Armstead leads the team with 10 sacks this season, but the Niners have racked up 45 of them as a team. Getting pressure on Drew Brees could really slow down the Saints offense in this game.

Saints Defense Will Need to Show Up

If the New Orleans Saints are going to pick up this huge home victory, they are going to need their defense to show up in a big way. New Orleans has allowed less than 21 points per game this season, but its run defense will be tested by San Francisco in this game. Defensive end Cameron Jordan had four sacks in the Saints’ most recent win, but he can defend the run as well.

Alvin Kamara is one of the best running backs in the NFL, but he still needs to give the Saints more in the running game. New Orleans is averaging just 107 yards on the ground this season, which is right about league average. Brees is having another monster year, but he needs help from the other playmakers on offense. New Orleans will have to score some points to win this game.

Saints Just Too Tough To Beat In New Orleans

This game features two of the best teams in the National Football League, and home-field advantage will play a role in this game. The San Francisco 49ers have been running the ball on everyone so far this season, but they will have to throw the ball at some point. New Orleans has a dynamic offense that can put on a show at home. Look for the Saints to have a great performance in this game in picking up a big win. Take the New Orleans Saints -3.0 over the San Francisco 49ers when you lay down your bets on this NFL game.