The San Francisco 49ers and Arizona Cardinals square off in a Thursday Night Football game that is not likely to draw in record TV numbers. The NFL has had issues this season with primetime TV ratings declining compared to last season. Throwing out a matchup of Blaine Gabbert and Drew Stanton is probably not going to do a lot to help that.
Given the matchup we are expecting, it would not be at all surprising to see the UNDER hit tonight. The point total opened at 42, climbed up to 43.5, and is now settled in at 43 for most sportsbooks.
Each game is its own individual event, but the 49ers and the UNDER have been fast friends in this kind of matchup. The 49ers last nine divisional matchups have resulted in the UNDER. Six of the 49ers last nine games against Arizona have gone UNDER. The 49ers games have gone UNDER in their last five home games.
Our friends at Odds Shark offer up a computer projection based on a variety of factors. They project a final score of 22-21.5, with Arizona winning. That would just hit the OVER for most, and a PUSH for the people who got 43.5 points.
Over at ESPN, they see the UNDER being the solid wager:
Even if Arizona scores in the 20s, I don't see the 49ers' offense doing enough to add to the total points. I believe that this can stay under, even if the Cardinals have a defensive touchdown (two would make me less confident).
I’m strongly tempted to parlay the UNDER and Cardinals covering 3.5 points. I should have gotten in at Cardinals 2.5 points with the UNDER, but even at 3.5 points this is still tempting. Or, I could just grab the UNDER and be done with it.