NFL Free Picks: Seahawks vs. 49ers 10/3/21

Seattle Seahawks (1-2 SU, 1-2 ATS) vs. San Francisco 49ers (2-1 SU, 1-2 ATS)

Week 4 NFL

Date/Time: Sunday, October 3, 2021 at 4:05PM EDT

Where: Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, California

TV: Fox

Point Spread: SEA +3/SF -3 (Betanysports.eu – Bet on games at -105 instead of -110! It’s WAY better than ANY bonus you can receive! It’s the gift that keeps on giving!)

Over/Under Total: 52

The Seattle Seahawks come to Levi’s Stadium for a big NFC West showdown with the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. At 1-2, Seattle wants to make sure this doesn’t start getting away from them, but they face a tough road-divisional spot against a 49ers team that is 2-1 and easily could be 3-0. On Sunday Night Football, a late Rodgers surge and FG caused them to lose a heartbreaker, 30-28. They get another one at home this week as they look to avoid back-to-back losses. Seattle, meanwhile, has more pieces to pick up following a 30-17 loss on Sunday at the Vikings. While San Fran is nice and dug in at home, the Seahawks face another road test this week. Who can get it done this week?

Tough Spot for Seattle

With injuries and other problems, San Francisco is holding it together pretty well and should be unbeaten. Sunday night was a draining experience, but they should be ready to go. Seattle looked downright flat against the Vikes on Sunday, and following a draining overtime home loss to the Titans, one wonders if they’re crumbling a little bit. One would have suspected more on Sunday, but after looking good for a quarter-and-change, the offense went into the tank, and the “D” yielded one of Kirk Cousins’ best games in recent memory.

The Seattle defense has oscillated between good and horrible the last few seasons, but we’ve seen a vulnerability the last few weeks that shows reverting to good form could be out of reach. The corner play is really becoming a problem, not helped by what appears to be a total lack of a pass-rush at times. These aren’t the kinds of problems that go away or where you’re able to camouflage them. A vital Seattle offense clicking and in high gear can make it less of a glaring problem. And against off-key offensive units, the Seahawks’ “D” can sometimes keep it together. Where San Francisco falls in that equation is up for debate, but they’re still a group that has put up 86 points in three games, and this should be a spot where they have success.

What the Seahawks Can Maybe Do

We’ve seen backs having a lot of success against the Seahawks the last few weeks. San Francisco, through injuries mostly, isn’t a team that can run the ball all that effectively. They could get Trey Lance more involved, and rookie Trey Sermon could come alive. Still, it’s not a very dependable part of their outlook at this point. In addition, the Niners’ aerial game with Jimmy Garoppolo at the helm isn’t automatic, either. There are weapons who can deliver, like Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, and others, but it’s not often that they really hammer that part of their game on their opponents. If the offense does explode, it’s usually through the run-game, and they don’t have that right now.

While it didn’t surface last week when it seemed like it would, the Seattle offense might be the most compelling part of this matchup. That’s if it fires. We’ve seen different people stepping up in this offense, with Wilson, Tyler Lockett, DK Metcalf, and Chris Carson all having good games. They need more good performances from these guys, but more at the same time. And outside of that four, the production can be thin from the supporting cast, as they need guys like Freddie Swain, Greg Everett, and Will Dissly to get more involved. This is a spot where they need a complete showing and for a whole sixty minutes.

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Can The 49ers Overcome?

A pattern we see with the 49ers is that they go as the injury bug goes. When it doesn’t come, they made it to the Super Bowl. The seasons surrounding that it has been a struggle. They overcome it through being accustomed to dealing with it and good coaching. Still, it’s a team beginning to accrue a slew of injuries from which they might not recover. They do have the depth that comes from previously dealing with this on a massive scale, and they’re perhaps not totally in tatters just yet. Other than falling prey to a late Rodgers comeback, as a lot of other teams also have, they’ve been looking the part of a winner. But in games where they’re going to need to put up points, you start wondering where’s George Kittle (questionable) and his big performances? Deebo Samuel will have a huge game and then be more of an afterthought in another game. Aiyuk shows signs, then disappears for long stretches.

It’s just that in comparison, the Seahawks are relatively intact. There are some dings here and there, but there are no glaring omissions like there are with the Niners. Still, that Seattle O-line sometimes starts looking shaky, that long-lasting bone of contention with this Seahawks’ offense. And this Niners’ defense is more than able to bring that about with guys like Javon Kinlaw and Nick Bosa wreaking havoc up front. It’s just that in this spot, with Seattle’s urgency and with the offensive toolbox they have, they’re likely to come up with something.

Take the Points on the Road Dog

In the interests of full disclosure, a stance of San Fran is wholly justified in this spot. Seattle is in a rough patch with some wear and tear on their bodies, coming into a tough divisional spot against an overachieving team where this means an awful lot. They’re not going to catch the 49ers sleeping or off-guard. I just think some of San Fran’s offensive woes make a Seattle “D” a little less awful. A motivated Wilson and his superior weaponry can impose their stamp on this game enough to make taking points seem like the slightly better idea. I’m taking the Seahawks in this one.

Loot’s Prediction to Cover the Point Spread: I’m betting on the Seattle Seahawks plus 3 points.  Bet ALL your Week 4 NFL picks FREE by taking advantage of a 100% REAL CASH bonus on your first deposit of $100 to $1000 at Betnow Sportsbook!