Betting On The 49ers?
Even though the 2013 NFL preseason has just begun, it’s never too early to look ahead at the teams with the best odds to win the Super Bowl.
Locking in early odds can pay huge dividends, and this year one of the best bets out there is the San Francisco 49ers.
The 49ers are poised to return to the big dance after coming up just short in last year’s Super Bowl loss to the Baltimore Ravens in New Orleans.
The team is still loaded after their Super Bowl run and will no doubt be hungry at another crack at hoisting its sixth Vince Lombardi Trophy.
And the odds look favorable for the Niners’ who are currently 6-to-1 ( [dfads params=’groups=63740&limit=1&return_javascript=0′] ) favorites to win Super Bowl XLVIII at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey this coming February. In fact, San Francisco is the team most likely to win the Super Bowl, according to a recent computer simulation model.
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According to the Predictalator, a software program that runs 50,000 simulated seasons or games to determine how many times a current team should win, make the playoffs, etc., the 49ers have a 20.1 percent chance of winning this year’s Super Bowl.
That’s nearly 6 percent better than the second place teams —the Broncos (14.6%) and Patriots (14.9%).
Those odds should give 49ers fans some hope and prompt those sitting on the wagering fence line to cast their coin on last year’s runner up, and soon.
I mean this 49ers team is good, starting with an offense that boasts dual-threat quarterback Colin Kaepernick and a backfield consisting of perennial powerhouse Frank Gore, Kendall Hunter, LaMichael James and potential draft-day steal Marcus Lattimore. All weapons that can wreck havoc on even the best NFL defenses.
Speaking of defense, the Niners’ have probably one of the better defenses in the league, starting with big defensive lineman Justin Smith; linebackers Patrick Willis, Aldon Smith, NaVorro Bowman and Ahmad Brooks. It’s like the Sunday matinee of WWE Smack down.
And there is plenty of depth in the secondary too, with cornerback Carlos Rogers, Tarell Brown, Chris Culliver, Nnamdi Asomugha and Eric Wright, all capable of shutting down some of the best receivers in the league.
However, as always, nothing is perfect, and there is one thing that could hinder the 49ers this season. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
It appears that the team’s No. 1 receiver of the 2012 campaign, Michael Crabtree, will be sidelined for most of the 2013 season. Crabtree is currently rehabbing from surgery on his right Achilles tendon.
The good news though for head coach Jim Harbaugh, is that the team did sign former Baltimore Ravens’ star receiver Anquan Boldin in the offseason. Nevertheless, after that the receiving corps could be a bit thin.
Receivers Kyle Williams and Mario Manningham are still rehabilitating from injury, which means it may be up to 2012 disappointment A.J. Jenkins and rookie Quinton Patton to shoulder the load for most of the season.
It’s also going to be interesting to see if rookie Eric Reid and veteran Craig Dahl will be able to make up for the departure of safety Dashon Goldson.
Still, the 49ers look poised to tear up the NFC West on their way to a post-season bid, and there is no question this team can win games.
The rushing attack will be the focal point of the offense and I expect Gore and Hunter to grab at least 50-60 yards per game between them, and James to be used in the slot while catching passes out of the backfield.
That short passing game should keep the oppositions defense guessing — at least a little — and plenty to win enough games to get them back to the Super Bowl and to national prominence.
