Niners Nation
There’s a long way to go, but the Niners are in a good spot heading into their bye week.
The San Francisco 49ers are back in the driver’s seat halfway through the season of the NFC West.
The Niners are tied with the Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks in the win/loss column. The Cardinals and Seahawks have yet to play this season.
According to FanDuel Sportsbook, the 49ers are favorites to win the division, with the Cardinals having the second-best odds:
49ers (-110)
Cardinals (+290)
Seahawks (+500)
Los Angeles Rams (+500)
The Rams might sell at the trade deadline, while Seattle is banged up and isn’t more than consistent on either side of the ball. The Cardinals' defense ranks among the worst in the NFL, so oddsmakers expect them to regress as the season plays itself out.
Process of elimination, history, and injured impact players returning after the bye week brings us back to the 49ers to win the division. Winning your division is the easiest path to making the playoffs, so keep that in mind when you see San Francisco’s odds of making the postseason.
A statement win over the Dallas Cowboys not only helped the Niners in the NFC West standings but it put them right in the thick of the NFC playoff race.
FanDuel has the 49ers' current win total set at 9.5. Only five teams are projected to have higher win totals, making the probability high that the 49ers will play more than 17 games this season if they continue to win the games they’re supposed to.
How do the Niners get to 10 wins? Wins over Tampa Bay, Seattle, Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, and Arizona. That gives the Niners a three-game leeway in the loss column, losing two on the road and one against the Detroit Lions.
The current implied odds give the 49ers a 70 percent chance of making the playoffs. Those odds seem high, but by considering and understanding the weaknesses of the other teams on the schedule, those projections don’t seem as far-fetched.
How do you feel about the Niners playoff chances?
