Two 1-0 teams in the NFC face off this weekend, as the San Francisco 49ers travel to Philadelphia to take on the Eagles. The 49ers defeated the Detroit Lions, 41-33, but almost gave up a 24-point lead in the span of two minutes. Is that something to be worried about moving forward? The Eagles, on the other hand, asserted their dominance over the Atlanta Falcons, 32-6. Jalen Hurts hasn’t played many NFL games yet, but he could be a franchise quarterback.
The 49ers are expected to return to the postseason after injuries derailed last year’s campaign, but could this be a trap game? Philly fans are going to be out in full force, while Jimmy Garoppolo is looking to hold on to the starting job.
The 49ers lead the all-time series, 18-14-1, while the Eagles have won the past two meetings. Below, we will break down this matchup from a gambling perspective and examine the line movement, Over/Under and player props to consider. First, here’s how you can watch Sunday’s matchup.
All NFL odds are via Caesars Sportsbook.
How to watch
Date: Sunday, Sept. 19 | Time: 1 p.m. ET
Location: Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
TV: Fox | Stream: fuboTV (try for free)
Follow: CBS Sports App
Odds: 49ers -3, O/U 49.5
Line movement
Latest Odds: Philadelphia Eagles +3
This line reopened at SF -3 on Monday and saw a small climb to -3.5 before dropping back to -3 on Wednesday.
The pick: Eagles +3. I’m taking an upset here. We only have a one-game sample size, but this Eagles team has appeared to have turned over a new leaf with Hurts and first-year head coach Nick Sirianni. It helps that he has playmakers such as Miles Sanders and DeVonta Smith to work off of as well. Additionally, this Eagles defense could be decent, as it held the Falcons to just six points in Week 1.
Over/Under 49.5
Latest Odds: Under 49.5
This total reopened at 48 on Monday but quickly climbed all the way to 50. It dropped back to 49.5 on Thursday.
The pick: Under 49.5. My lean is to the Under. SportsLine data scientist Stephen Oh says the 49ers are scoring a couple points less than the odds implied (26.8) in simulations.
Player props
Jalen Hurts passing attempts: Over 31.5 (-120). Hurts attempted 35 passes in Week 1, even though the game was out of hand by the fourth quarter. This game should be closer, and I think Sirianni wants to utilize his playmakers in tight games.
Deebo Samuel receiving yards: Over 56.5 (-115). Brandon Aiyuk is not the unquestioned No. 2 receiver we thought he would be in 2021, while Samuel appears to be ready to break out in a big way. He was targeted 12 times last Sunday, nd caught nine passes for 189 yards and a touchdown. Samuel has also recorded at least 100 receiving yards in three out of his past four games on the road. I’ll take the Over.
Miles Sanders receptions: Over 2.5 (-110). Sanders is a legitimate dual-threat back, and he was targeted five times in the passing game in Week 1. I say he gets to three receptions.
