The San Francisco 49ers enter the 2017 season coming off a 2-14 season, and with fairly minimal expectations when it comes to wins and losses. We all want to see the team improve, but with a win total set at 4.5, I can’t imagine people will be surprised with a poor season, record-wise.
The NFL released the 2017 schedule a week before the draft, and once the Week 1 matchup was set, we learned the opening line. The 49ers opened as a four or 4.5-point underdog to the Carolina Panthers, depending on the sportsbook you choose. The 49ers are the home team, but expectations are a little higher for Carolina than for the 49ers.
A week after that opening line was posted, the folks at CG Technology were back with their annual look at lines for every single game in Weeks 1 through 16. It’s crazy to set lines for games in December, but it is a fun thought exercise as we consider the state of the team. I find it amusing that they don’t include lines for Week 17. They do it because of the unpredictability of starting lineups for teams getting ready for the playoffs or done for the season. I get that part, but considering they already set lines for the first 16 weeks, it amuses me that unpredictability is only a factor for that last week of games.
The 49ers are underdogs in all but one game, currently sitting at 1.5-point favorites for their Week 3 home game against the Los Angeles Rams. They are a one-point underdog at home against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 16, which is their only other game where they are less than a field goal underdog.
The Browns and Rams are the only teams that are not favored in a single game. A year ago, the 49ers were part of that group. They were a pick ‘em in two games, but otherwise underdogs the rest of the way. By the time each week arrived, the 49ers were favorites in three games last season. They were a one-point home favorite at home against Tampa Bay (lost 34-17), a one-point road favorite against Chicago (lost 26-6), and a three-point home favorite against the New York Jets (lost 23-17 in overtime). The 49ers went 0-3 against the spread in their three games as favorites, and were 4-11-1 ATS for the whole season.
Here is a full rundown of the early look-ahead lines.
Week 1: vs. Carolina Panthers (+4.5)
Week 2: @ Seattle Seahawks (+13)
Week 3: vs. Los Angeles Rams (-1.5)
Week 4: @ Arizona Cardinals (+9)
Week 5: @ Indianapolis Colts (+9)
Week 6: @ Washington (+8)
Week 7: vs. Dallas Cowboys (+8.5)
Week 8: @ Philadelphia Eagles (+7.5)
Week 9: vs. Arizona Cardinals (+3.5)
Week 10: vs. New York Giants (+4.5)
Week 12: vs. Seattle Seahawks (+7.5)
Week 13: @ Chicago Bears (+6)
Week 14: @ Houston Texans (+9)
Week 15: vs. Tennessee Titans (+3)
Week 16: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (+1)
Week 17: @ Los Angeles Rams - no line