The San Francisco 49ers blew another game to drop to 1-7, and now they get to face another awful football team. The 49ers host the Oakland Raiders on Thursday Night Football this week in a matchup of one-win teams.
The 49ers looked ready to get their second win, but lost 18-15 on a late Christian Kirk touchdown. The Raiders lost to the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, dropping to 1-6. They led heading into the fourth quarter, only to give up 21 unanswered points en route to a 42-28 loss.
The Westgate SuperBook opened their lines for Week 9, and the 49ers initially opened as a four-point favorite for TNF. The number was of note because last week, the look-ahead line had the 49ers as 2.5 point favorite The look-ahead line is the early projection, to which we can compare the actual line. Since opening at 49ers -4, the line has slipped at the Westgate to a field goal. Most sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark have the 49ers as three- or 3.5-point favorites.
The 49ers are the better team, but I also thought the 49ers would beat the Arizona Cardinals in Week 8. We saw how that played out. I would take the 49ers with a field goal spread, but this time has proven its inability to close games — even against atrocious teams. I think this ends up a close game, but who knows who will actually win it. I don’t want to let the 49ers recent performance impact how I see this game playing out, but taking the points with the Raiders might end up being your best bet.