Is any other team in the NFL playoffs better suited to play on the road than the San Francisco 49ers? They run the ball well and play solid defense, which is two of the things I look at when placing bets on road teams.
There should be plenty of football betting value in this big divisional-round matchup in Green Bay. If you are wondering if the 49ers can beat the Green Bay Packers, keep reading.
First, here’s the basic info you need to know before I give you three reasons I think they will win.
San Francisco at Green Bay
- Date: Saturday, Jan. 22
- Time: 8:15 PM EST on FOX
- Venue: Lambeau Field in Green Bay, WI
The Schedule
After a 2-0 start, the 49ers went 1-5 in their next six. The losing ways began with a regular-season meeting against Green Bay, 30-28.
San Francisco led the game until a last-second 51-yard field goal. Aaron Rodgers used the last 37 seconds on the clock to set up the winning score.
The 49ers lost the next three and dug a massive hole in a tough NFC West division. San Francisco had to finish the season strong to reach the NFL playoffs.
The team went 7-2 for the rest of the season to secure a wild card spot. Three of those games were against eventual playoff teams.
The 49ers were 2-1 in those matchups, beating the Cincinnati Bengals and the Los Angeles Rams. Their only loss came by three points to the AFC’s top-seeded Tennessee Titans.
The Green Bay Packers won their last five of the season without playing a playoff team. Only two opponents were close to contention. The Packers beat the Baltimore Ravens and the Cleveland Browns by a combined 3 points.
San Francisco 49ers’ Defense
The 49ers rank in the top ten in almost every defensive category. They are tied for 9th in points against and 3rd in sacks.
The defense held the Dallas Cowboys to 77 rushing yards in the Wild Card round. The four-man defensive front sacked Dak Prescott five times. San Francisco was dominant on defense even without having Nick Bosa in the second half.
The 49ers went 4-1 to end the season, allowing an average of 17.4 points in those games. Only the Bengals produced over 300 yards passing.
Ball Control
Elijah Mitchell will play a critical role in the success of the 49ers’ offense. He ran for 96 yards on 27 attempts against the Cowboys.
The rushing average may not be high, but it shows San Francisco’s commitment to the run. Deebo Samuel added 72 more yards on only ten attempts.
The wide receiver adds an element to the ground game that should keep Green Bay alert. Yet, the key to this attack is keeping the ball out of Aaron Rodgers’ hands.
Jimmy Garoppolo may not have the pedigree of the other playoff quarterbacks. Still, the running game gives him the ability to choose his spots and create opportunities using play-action passes.
49ers vs. Packers (-5.5)
The San Francisco 49ers are capable of staying close in any game. If they can control the game’s tempo, I believe they have a good chance of covering the spread this week.
I expect them to keep this game within reach. It wouldn’t surprise me to see them win this game outright. Do you have a different view of how this game will end? Create an account at BetMGM’s sports betting site for a risk-free initial bet of up to $1,000.
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