NFL picks: The San Francisco 49ers have Super Bowl aspirations as they get accustomed to their new state of the art digs at Levi’s Stadium. Thus far in preseason their horrible performance has not matched those expectations and has raised doubts about their championship viability. The San Diego Chargers are looking to build on their success of last year as a surprise playoff team but their need for an improved defense remains a concern. The San Francisco 49ers will host the San Diego Chargers at Levi’s Stadium with coverage on FOX starting at 1 PM PT. BetDSI opened with the 49ers as a six point favorite and with a total of 42.
Charge It
The San Diego Chargers are 1-1 both straight up and against the spread with an even 1-1 split on totals. The Chargers are coming off a 41-14 loss at the Seattle Seahawks as 6-point dogs with the game going over the total of 38.5. San Diego has been inconsistent in exhibition play as they rank 17th overall for total offense, 15th for scoring offense, 22nd for total defense and 26th for scoring defense. QB Kellen Clemens has a 146.8 QB rating and a three-zero TD/INT ratio while regular starter Philip Rivers has a 106.8 QB rating. WR Dontelle Inman is averaging 30 yards per catch.
Yet to Strike Gold
The 49ers are 0-2 both straight up and against the spread in preseason with both of their exhibition games going under the total. The 49ers rank dead last in the NFL for total offense and scoring offense while their defense ranks 27th so far both overall and for points allowed. Poor quarterbacking has been a major concern as prospective backup Blaine Gabbert has been a disaster with a 17.9 QB rating and a zero-to-two TD/INT ratio. Colin Kaepernick has been mediocre at best with a 75.4 QB rating. McLeod Bethel Thompson has been nearly as bad as Gabbert with a 41.2 QB rating and a zero-to-two TD/INT ratio. San Francisco is coming off a 34-0 stink bomb loss to Denver in their Levi’s Stadium debut.
Our Pick
49ers coach Jim Harbaugh believes that all of their problems are correctable and that his team will be fine. We agree and will take the 49ers in this one.
