Welcome back for another week of the 2015 NFL season. Week 4 is underway, with the Baltimore Ravens pulling off an overtime road win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers looked to have a potential win in hand, but collapsed down the stretch. Some bad play-calling late in the game likely cost the Steelers a huge win. That was just an appetizer as the 49ers are a major part of the Sunday main course. The 49ers kick off against the Green Bay Packers at 1:25 p.m. PT at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara.
Once again, it is time for more predictions for Sunday's game. I posted the Week 4 prediction contest thread, so you can get all of your picks in there, but we can focus on 49ers-specific picks in here. The 49ers have won four straight against the Green Bay Packers, but they head into this game a sizable underdog. The 49ers are an 8.5-point underdog, which marks the first time since 2007 they have been a home underdog by such a margin. They were a 9.5-point underdog to the Cincinnati Bengals on December 15, 2007, and a 8.5-point underdog to the Minnesota Vikings the week before. They won outright 20-13 against the Bengals, and lost 27-7 to the Vikings.
We're back once again with The Crowd's Line to crowd-source some predictions. Our friends at Acme Packing Company are also voting, and the widget below pulls out the vote for each site, as well as the general crowd's line, and what Vegas is thinking.
I also have listed out a handful of picks from around the national media. Opinions are not quite as mixed as last week. The 49ers are coming off a second straight ugly loss, and most of the national media think they lose again in Week 4. Peter Schrager from FOXSports.com is the only national person I found who picked the 49ers. It should surprise nobody that the entire 49ers.com crew picked the 49ers to win.
This is not remotely close to a complete list of media picks, so feel free to post links to any additional ones.
SB Nation (link to come): Not even me - consider it pushing for the reverse jinx
ESPN: Everybody picking the Packers
CBS Sports: Everyone picking the Packers
FOXSports.com: Peter Schrager only one of eight to pick 49ers
NFL.com: All five picked the Packers
Greg Cote, Miami Herald: Packers 34, 49ers 23
Dennis Manoloff, The Plain Dealer: Packers 31, 49ers 27
Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News: Packers 38 , 49ers 22
Pro Football Talk: MDS Packers 28, 49ers 13; Florio Packers 38, 49ers 23