If you were looking to make Sunday’s game a little more interesting, Michelle Magdziuk and I packed today’s Gold Digger’s podcast with tons of gambling and fantasy advice. Michelle is a researcher for the NFL Network and the Director of Content for Ball Blast Football, if you don’t know.
According to the DraftKings Sportsbook, the Niners are +5 underdogs against the undefeated Cardinals.
So here are three of the best bets you can make in the 49ers game this week.
Elijah Mitchell longest rush over 13.5 yards
The Cardinals’ rushing defense is vulnerable. They allow 135.8 yards per game on the ground through roughly a quarter of the season as a team. Not surprisingly, they’re also allowing more yards per carry to running backs than any other team in the league. With Trey Lance starting, the 49ers will unveil a unique rushing attack that no one has had a chance to prepare for yet. The combination of those new plays and the speed of Lance and Mitchell means the 49ers should be able to pop off a couple of big plays on the ground this week. By the way, Trey Sermon’s over/under for longest rush is just 10.5 yards - I’d definitely take the over on that as well.
Brandon Aiyuk over 33.5 receiving yards
Deebo Samuel is lighting the league on fire so far this season, so he is clearly going to get the lion’s share of attention from Cardinals defensive coordinator Vance Joseph. However, with George Kittle doubtful, someone else is going to have to step up if the 49ers are going to do anything through the air, and Brandon Aiyuk is the obvious choice. I’m not sure how many receptions he’ll have on the day, but I expect Kyle Shanahan to employ a more vertical passing attack, which could give Brandon a chance to showcase some of his lesser-used skills.
Kyler Murray over/under on interceptions: .5
This is one that Michelle and I actually disagreed about during the show. I think you should take the under because the 49ers have not been good at forcing turnovers this season, and I just don’t know where the interceptions are going to come from. We already know that Jimmie Ward and Jaquiski Tartt aren’t the types of players that generate interceptions. Jason Verrett is gone for the year, and with all the talented wide receivers Arizona has, Kyler Murray can just throw away from Emmanuel Moseley all day long. If the 49ers are going to get a pick, it feels like it’s going to have to come from their linebackers, and I just don’t see Murray putting the ball in harm’s way.
That said, Michelle pointed out that even though he’s completing 76% of his passes on the year, Murray has thrown interceptions in three of his four games this year. Hell, he threw one against the Jaguars, and they stink. Even if you think Murray is going to light it up on Sunday, one interception won’t preclude him from having a great game.
Sorry we couldn’t be more helpful on that last one, but we trust you to make the right decision.
For more betting and fantasy advice, be sure to listen to The Gold Diggers podcast every Friday, and give the Niners Nation Podcast Network a follow while you’re at it.
Odds/lines subject to change. T&Cs apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for details.
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