That’s right. Vegas is expecting the Niners to win all 17 games.
We predicted the San Francisco 49ers would finish 12-5, with a meaningless loss in the season’s finale. Most teams would do anything to reach double-digit wins in a season. Based on the betting lines, the Niners are expected to win the most:
With the schedule out, we now have betting lines for every game.
Here is an objective measure of how good each team is expected to be in 2024 pic.twitter.com/RmCUWlHZuT
— Computer Cowboy (@benbbaldwin) May 16, 2024
And do so by a comfortable margin.
Of course, not everything goes as planned. A windy day in Cleveland marked by turnovers, an interception turned touchdown in Minnesota, and a woeful red zone interception against the Bengals can turn a game upside down— as the 49ers found out last season.
This year is a lot like last year in the sense that the expectation for the 49ers is to win…every game.
DraftKings Sportsbook has the odds for each game, and, as of writing, the Niners are favored in every game. Let’s go through the lines.
Week 1: 49ers -5.5 vs. Jets
Week 2: 49ers -6 @ Vikings
Week 3: 49ers -2.5 @ Rams
Week 4: 49ers -11.5 vs. Patriots
Week 5: 49ers -9.5 vs. Cardinals
Week 6: 49ers -4 @ Seahawks
Week 7: 49ers -2 vs. Chiefs
Week 8: There’s no spread, but the money line is -225, which equates to roughly -5.5
Week 9: Bye
Week 10: -4 @ Buccanneers
Week 11: -9 vs. Seahawks
Week 12: -2.5 @ Packers
Week 13: -2 @ Bills
Week 14: 49ers -5.5 vs. Bears
Week 15: 49ers -6.5. vs. Rams
Week 16: 49ers -1 @ Dolphins
Week 17: 49ers -4.5 vs. Lions
Week 18: 49ers -5.5 @ Cardinals
So the predictions weren’t that out of left field. The lowest lines are on the road against Green Bay, Buffalo, Miami, and against that Patrick Mahomes guy.
I imagine by the time we get to Week 3, the 49ers will be favored by more. That line seems low. But I would have never thought the Niners would be closer to touchdown favorites over the Jets. Then again, that speaks to what this team is capable of.
An overtime loss to a generational talent isn’t enough to change the opinions of oddsmakers.