The handwringing over the 49ers’ 2022 season commenced when Jimmy Garoppolo restructured his contract to return to San Francisco and planted some seeds of doubt in the club’s confidence in first-year starter Trey Lance. If there’s a hiccup coming from Lance, the betting lines don’t anticipate it coming in Week 1 when the 49ers face the Bears in Chicago. Tipico Sportsbook has the 49ers favored by 6.5 points on the road. They’re -340 on the money line as well, making them the largest Week 1 favorite.
It’s easy to see a path where the 49ers cover the 6.5 points while Lance struggles. San Francisco could wind up fielding the top defense in the NFL while featuring perhaps the league’s top pass rush. That unit has a chance to feast on a Bears offensive line that doesn’t project to be a strong point of their offense. Once we factor in their lack of top-end talent with their pass catchers it all adds up to a long day for Chicago’s offense.
That 6.5-point number is key because even a 10-3 49ers victory gets them the cover without pushing.
There’s not a ton of value in the 49ers on the money line. Bettors have to place a $340 bet to win $100. The more interesting non-spread number is the total. Tipico has the over/under set at 41.5 with the under going at -115 (bet $115 to win $100). San Francisco’s defense should be stingy Sunday, but the Bears defensive line against a shaky 49ers offensive front could make for tough sledding for Lance and Co.
We like a low-scoring 49ers win.
Picks: 49ers -6.5, under 41.5