Philadelphia Eagles vs. San Francisco 49ers Pick ATS
Philadelphia Eagles (0-2-1 SU, 0-3 ATS) vs. San Francisco 49ers (2-1 SU, 2-1 ATS)
Week 4 NFL
Date/Time: Sunday Night Football, October 4, 2020 at 8:20PM EDT
Where: Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, California
TV: NBC
Point Spread: PHI +7/SF -7 (Sportsbetting.ag – 50% Signup Bonus! Sweet Live Betting!)
Over/Under Total: 45
The Philadelphia Eagles take on the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday at Levi’s Stadium in an NFC showdown. The Niners are 2-1, trying to make it work in the face of crippling injuries, winning two straight and coming off a lopsided 36-9 road-win over the Jets. Winning twice on the road amidst these conditions has been commendable, and they now return home to take on a sideways Philly bunch, still winless after scoring a 23-23 tie against the Bengals on Sunday. Who can get the cover in Santa Clara this week?
Where the Niners Stand
Last season, they were able not to get flattened by the injury bug, but this season we see a recurring theme one again surface with the 49ers. The most visible position has been affected, with starting QB Jimmy Garoppolo hurt in week two, with his status questionable heading into this game. They’re in good hands with an experienced backup who can do damage in Nick Mullens, but getting Jimmy G back in there would be good for an offense that has taken a lot of hits, with their best contributors either banged-up or out of action. On offense, Tevin Coleman and Deebo Samuel are out, with George Kittle, Jerick McKinnon, and Raheem Mostert listed as questionable. They also lost their center, and it’s just a tough situation when everybody that is somebody on this offense is hurt.
Unfortunately for San Fran, the bad news doesn’t stop on defense. Their prized defensive front is in tatters, with Nick Bosa, Solomon Thomas, and Dee Ford all out of action. Richard Sherman is on IR, and two other corners are questionable, as is LB Dre Greenlaw. We’re getting back to a situation we had a few years ago where the Niners have more of their best players on the injury report than on the actual field—a tough pill to swallow heading into week four.
Amazingly, it really hasn’t hurt the Niners yet, with two wins and two covers in the last two weeks. But that came against the two New York teams, hardly a representation that San Fran can continue winning. But still, we have seen some of that depth befitting a defending conference champion surface the last two weeks. And being a franchise that is used to dealing with injuries, they do, in fact, have a deep roster with experience. And for a Super Bowl team, they’re being eased into the schedule a bit and get another winnable game here too.
More Picks: Pats at Cheifs ATS Play
What Can Philly Do About It?
At 0-2-1 with a lot of dysfunction on both sides of the ball, it’s a fair question to ask. The Eagles also have the excuse of injuries, and it got worse on Sunday in a draining tie that left them even more depleted. As it stands now, CB Avonte Maddox, TE Dallas Goedert, G Brandon Brooks, WR Alshon Jeffery, and DE Vinny Curry are out. At the same time, DeSean Jackson, G Jason Peters, CB Darius Slay, and others are questionable. That’s a lot of key people. Their offense already is a bit sideways, and if they continue seeing bodies drop on “D,” it really takes away their only bankable strength at this point. However you want to cut it, starting the season losing by ten to the Redskins, by 18 to the Rams, and getting a tie at home against the Bengals shows the Eagles have a ways to go and those backing them haven’t been getting all that close to securing a cover. Going on the road to take on the conference champion wouldn’t seem to a great time to make that better, but maybe San Fran being so depleted in the personnel department will help. It also won’t hurt after flopping three times as a betting favorite, the Eagles will be dogs in this one.
Eagles Need Points
Injuries or not, the San Fran defense has a lot of horses and while the opposition hasn’t been wonderful, allowing a combined 22 points the last two weeks on the road and being back at home means the Philly offense will need to come up with better. With a plummeting completion percentage and 3 TDs against six picks, Carson Wentz looks really ragged. It’s hard to tell if it’s dipping form on his part or maybe the effects of having a suddenly-compromised line with a cast of supporting talent around him that dips in effectiveness with each passing year.
Wentz is left to work with Miles Sanders, a nice talent, but not a guy likely to carry a team offensively. And with all the different ball-catchers sidelined, Wentz is basically down to a contractually-irritated Zach Ertz, with guys like Greg Ward, John Hightower, and rookie Jalen Reagor. That’s not a very appetizing rotation against this Frisco defense, meaning Philly will be relying heavily on their “D” to get the cover in this spot. It’s just that even if the 49ers have the more high-profile injuries, they may be more accustomed and have the necessary depth to withstand it better than what the Eagles do.
Lay the Points
One can’t rule out the urgency of a proud team like the Eagles in this spot. Their season would really be on the rocks if they lost this one. And they could be catching Frisco in a tough spot with all the injuries. I just see the 49ers as being the more-resilient team overall, with their depth able to keep them upright, with a cooperative schedule that isn’t throwing this version of their team into the lion’s den just yet. I just think the Eagles are in some trouble, and I like the Niners to get the win and cover at home this week.
Loot’s Prediction to Cover the Point Spread: I’m betting on the San Francisco 49ers minus 7 points. Note: 5Dimes has left the U.S. betting market, however, you can still bet on games at -105 reduced odds and enjoy the same great wagering platform/menu of betting options at BetAnySports!