San Francisco 49ers vs. Atlanta Falcons Betting Preview
Where: Georgia Dome — Atlanta, Georgia
When: Sunday, December 18, 2016, 4:05 PM ET
Line: San Francisco 49ers (+13.5) at Atlanta Falcons (-13.5); total: 51.0 – view all NFL lines
TV Broadcast: FOX
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Betting on the San Francisco 49ers (+13.5)
For the first half at least, the Niners appeared well on their way to a rare victory on Sunday against the visiting Jets. San Francisco led by 14 points at the break, including a 14-0 advantage after the opening period.
Colin Kaepernick was terrific early on, completing his first seven passes for 95 yards in the first frame. Carlos Hyde, meanwhile, had his best game as a pro, finishing with a career-high 193 yards on 17 rushes and scored the team’s first touchdown—a seven-yard catch.
However, things turned flat-out ugly for the Niners in the second half, during which they went scoreless, collected just 17 yards passing and squandered their lead to eventually lose the game itself in the overtime session. The loss marks San Francisco’s 12-straight loss, a franchise-worst.
The Niners could be looking at their 13th-consecutive setback when they travel to the Georgia Dome to face Atlanta. San Francisco’s won the last three meetings (2-1 ATS) with the Falcons, but don’t expect that streak to continue with the way Chip Kelly’s crew has been playing. Their best chance of making this a close game is if Hyde drops another monstrous outing.
Betting on the Atlanta Falcons (-13.5)
Atlanta easily picked up its fourth win in six games (3-3 ATS) on Sunday, mercilessly blowing out the Jared Goff-led Rams in Los Angeles, 42-14, despite missing the services of star wideout Julio Jones.
It was the fourth time this season that the Falcons scored 40-plus points, and that could be the case again when they head back home for another favorable matchup against the struggling Niners, who are giving up a league-high 30.2 points per game.
Quarterback Matt Ryan, who passed for 237 yards with three touchdowns versus LA, should be able to keep pushing the ball forward through the air, especially with Jones likely back. Besides him, expect Taylor Gabriel to stay almost as involved as he was against the Rams, where he led Atlanta with 82 yards on three receptions along with his fifth touchdown catch of the season.
RB Devonta Freeman, meanwhile, was held to just six yards on six carries by LA, but he’s unlikely to remain quiet versus a San Francisco front seven, which is the worst in the NFL and one that recently allowed the Jets’ Bilal Powell to go off for 145 rushing yards and a pair of TDs.
Writer’s Prediction
Atlanta (-13.5) dominates again, beating the Niners by two touchdowns at least.
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