The 7-0 Niners See Their Super Bowl Odds Improve to +800 After Hammering Panthers in Week 8

• San Francisco improved its perfect record to 7-0 with a 51-13 rout of the Carolina Panthers
• The Niners’ fast start has vaulted them to a +800 Super Bowl bet, well ahead of their +4500 pre-season odds
• A tough second-half schedule awaits including matchups with New Orleans, Green Bay, and Baltimore

The San Francisco 49ers powered their climb up the Super Bowl odds with another decisive victory in Week 8, a 51-13 rout of the Carolina Panthers as 4-point home favorites. Now their Super Bowl 54 futures (+800) trail only the New England Patriots and New Orleans Saints.

Odds to Win Super Bowl 54

Odds taken on Oct. 28

Undefeated Niners Enjoying Meteoric Rise in Super Bowl Odds

With the win, the Niners improved their perfect SU record to 7-0 while boosting their Super Bowl odds, which were listed around +1000 last week. Indeed, San Francisco’s march up the NFL futures has been nothing short of meteoric. After missing the playoffs in each of the past five seasons, and posting losing records in each of the past four, the 49ers opened the season amid tempered expectations at a lengthy +4500.

The San Francisco 49ers rout the Panthers and score 50+ for the first time since 2003 ✨ pic.twitter.com/BNHAChY4PJ

— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) October 27, 2019

The 49ers have silenced the doubters with their undefeated start, winning five of seven by double-digits and limiting opponents to just 11 points per game. Now sporting a 1.5-game lead over Seattle in the NFC East going into Week 9, the Niners are -165 favorites to win their first NFC West title since 2012.

Niners Benefit from Favorable First-Half Schedule

However, San Francisco has also enjoyed the benefit of a somewhat favorable schedule in the first half of the season, with just two of the seven opponents they have faced so far currently sporting winning records. The competition gets increasingly stiffer in the weeks ahead. Even their Thursday Night Football battle at Arizona in Week 9 is not the layup many thought it would be at the start of the season.

The Cardinals have shown rapid improvement in recent weeks, posting wins in three of their past four outings. Arizona has also dominated recent dates with the 49ers, going 9-1 SU in 10 meetings since the start of the 2014 season.

Starting on Thanksgiving Weekend, the 49ers begin a three-game stretch that includes a home meeting with the NFC North-leading Green Bay Packers, followed by road dates with the Baltimore Ravens, and the Saints…

A trio of clashes with current division leaders will also present a massive challenge for San Francisco in the second half. Starting on Thanksgiving Weekend, the 49ers begin a three-game stretch that includes a home meeting with the NFC North-leading Green Bay Packers, followed by road dates with the Baltimore Ravens and the Saints, who are currently second-favorites at +500.

49ers Face Upcoming Dates with Division Leaders

The Packers and Saints are likely to present the biggest challenge of the season to the Niners’ NFL-leading pass defense, which has limited opposing pivots to just 128.7 yards per game and five touchdowns, while recording 10 interceptions.

NFC Standings w/ea. teams best W’s:
1 — SF 7-0 (LAR, CAR, PIT, TB/CLE)
2 — NO 7-1 (SEA, HOU, DAL)
3 — GB 7-1 (MIN, DAL, KC, DET)
4 — DAL 4-3 (PHI, NYG, WSH, MIA)
5 — SEA 6-2 (LAR, AZ, PIT, CLE)
6 — MIN 6-2 (DET, PHI, OAK)
7 — LAR 5-3 (NO, CAR, CLE, ATL)
8 — CAR 4-3 (HOU, JAX, AZ)

— John Dickinson (@JDJohnDickinson) October 28, 2019

The Ravens will count on a league-leading ground game when they vie for a fifth win in six meetings with the 49ers in a Week 13 matchup.

True Test Awaits in Matchups with Seahawks

But perhaps the best indicator of whether the 49ers are ready to challenge for their first Super Bowl title in 25 years will come in a pair of second-half clashes with the Seahawks that will likely determine who takes first place in the NFC West. Seattle sits among the league leaders with 17 passing touchdowns, and has emerged as a dominant road team this season, going 4-0 SU while averaging 28.5 points per game.

Never have I been more perplexed by a 6-2 Seahawks team that’s 4-0 on the road

At their best they can beat anyone in the league b/c of RW/Lockett/Carson

At their worst they can lose to anyone b/c of their suspect tackling, lack of pass rush & poor speed in zone coverage

6-2

— Brock Huard (@BrockHuard) October 27, 2019

Currently a distant +325 in the NFC West divisional odds and a lengthy +2500 bet in the Super Bowl odds, the Seahawks have largely owned the 49ers in recent years, posting outright wins in 12 of 14 meetings.

That is a trend that the 49ers will likely have to reverse if they are to maintain their divisional lead and delay an inevitable playoff matchup with either the Saints or Packers, who will continue to represent significant obstacles on San Francisco’s road back to Super Bowl contention.