49ers schedule, 2021 NFL odds: San Francisco opens Week 1 at Lions with Jimmy Garoppolo, not Trey Lance, clear favourite as beginning quarterback
All the drama in the 2021 NFL Draft started with the number 3 overall standings the San Francisco 49ers traded for the Miami Dolphins, and it cost a small fortune to do so. Everyone knew the Niners did it to pick a quarterback, but no one knew which one had the eye of GM John Lynch and Coach Kyle Shanahan. It turned out to be the roughest of the five first-round QBs at Trey Lance, which absolutely means the 49ers plan on reigning Jimmy Garoppolo to take center stage this year. William Hill Sportsbook gives San Francisco an Over / Under of 10 wins, while the SportsLine projection model predicts 9.6.
If the Niners had taken the much more pro-able Alabama Mac Jones in third place overall or even Ohio state’s Justin Fields, perhaps Jimmy G would be playing in New England at this point.
However, Lance, who started just one season at FCS powerhouse North Dakota State, means that Lance will likely get a Redshirt year in 2021, much like Patrick Mahomes did as a rookie at Kansas City. Unless, of course, Garoppolo gets injured or the 49ers are terribly out of the gate.
SportsLine odds makers put Garoppolo as the -400 favorite to start Week 1 and Lance at +250. Lance is +650 to win the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.
San Francisco is a 7.5 point favorite for the season opener in Detroit. This is the third time in the Super Bowl era that the Niners opened en route against the Lions. The last two times came in 1981 and 1984, and SF won the Super Bowl both times.
The Niners were one of the big disappointments of last season 6-10, largely due to injuries. Garoppolo only played six games and didn’t do very well on those with a 92.4 rating. The Niners were 3-3 in those games. In defense, the team played without Star Pass rushers Nick Bosa (knee) and Dee Ford (back) for most of the season.
In the free agency, San Francisco was able to re-sign Trent Williams on a six-year $ 138.06 million deal that will make him the highest-paid offensive lineman in NFL history. Former Pro Bowl Center Alex Mack was signed out of the Falcons. Fullback Kyle Juszczyk agreed to a five-year $ 27 million contract that guaranteed $ 10 million. That’s crazy money for a full-back, but the Niners use their full-backs more than any other team.
The 49ers’ 2021 schedule is considered the 19th toughest in the league as their 17 opponents – the Bengals visit is their 17th game – played a total of 132-138-2 last season.
San Francisco 49ers Trends / William Hill Sportsbook odds
- 2020 record: 6-10 (7-9 against the spread, 8-8 over / under)
- 2021 Strength of Schedule Rank: 19th (opponent’s combined win percentage of 0.489)
- 2021 Over / Under total winnings: 10.0
- Projected profits of the SportsLine projection model: 9.6
- Odds of winning Super Bowl 56: +1,400
- To win NFC: +600
- To win NFC West: +200
- Playoffs: yes -170, no +145
- NFL MVP odds: Jimmy Garoppolo +12,500
San Francisco 49ers home opponent
Detroit Lions Week 1: Detroit’s only win in the last 10 meetings was 32-17 at home in 2015
Philadelphia Eagles Week 2: Philly was +8.5 at Niners last October but won 25-20
Week 3 vs. Green Bay Packers (SNF): Green Bay was routed twice at Niners in 2019, including playoffs, but was thrown last year
Week 4 vs. Seattle Seahawks: Seattle have won six of the last seven as a street team in a row (played in Arizona last year)
Week 5 at Arizona Cardinals: Arizona’s playoff hopes last year had a huge hit with a week 16 home loss to SF
Week 6 bye
Week 7 against Indianapolis Colts (SNSF): first meeting since 2017; Indianapolis has won the last four
Week 8 at Chicago Bears: In the last three meetings, all were badly rated and totally finished Under
Week 9 vs. Arizona Cardinals: Niners have only won once in the last six home games (2019)
Week 10 vs Los Angeles Rams (MNF): The teams split the final four in SF both direct and ATS
Week 11 at Jacksonville Jaguars: San Francisco is in the SU winning streak with three games and four ATS in a row
Week 12 vs. Minnesota Vikings: The teams have split the last four meetings between SU & ATS, including playoffs
Week 13 at Seattle Seahawks (SNF): The only home defeat in Seattle in the last 10 games (including the playoffs) was in 2019
Week 14 at Cincinnati Bengals: 17th opponent added; San Francisco won the last meet 41-17 on the street in 2019
Week 15 vs. Atlanta Falcons: Atlanta has won the last two in the series and covered in both
Tennessee Titans (TNF) Week 16: 5-0 in five all-time meetings since Titans moved to Nashville
Week 17 vs. Houston Texans: Four All Time Meetings and Niners are 3-1 SU & 3-0-1 ATS
Week 18 at Los Angeles Rams: LA has only been home to 1-4 SU & ATS in five meetings since moving to Los Angeles
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