After Surviving Close Game vs Cardinals, 49ers Super Bowl Odds Listed at +700
- Books have dropped the odds of the 8-0 San Francisco 49ers winning Super Bowl 54 to +700
- The Niners were at +800 prior to Thursday’s win over Arizona
- San Fran also started the season 8-0 in 1990 and 1948
Some might look at the San Francisco 49ers’ 28-25 Week 8 victory over the 3-5-1 Arizona Cardinals and suggest it was evidence that the Niners are more Super Bowl 54 pretenders than contenders.
However, to do so would be a misnomer.
To be sure, San Francisco didn’t cover the massive 10-point spread. But what the Niners did was display how the addition of wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders has turned them into a more complete team.
Books didn’t fade San Francisco. In fact, the Niners improved to +700 in the 2020 Super Bowl odds. They also vaulted past the Green Bay Packers to become the third betting choice in this market.
Super Bowl 54 Odds
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| New England Patriots | +225 |
| New Orleans Saints | +500 |
| San Francisco 49ers | +700 |
| Green Bay Packers | +800 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | +1200 |
| Dallas Cowboys | +1400 |
| Baltimore Ravens | +1600 |
| Minnesota Vikings | +1600 |
| Los Angeles Rams | +2000 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | +2000 |
Odds taken on November 1, 2019.
The 49ers were listed at odds of +800 entering Thursday’s game.
The 49ers’ New Toy
Christmas came early for San Francisco quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. And although his present didn’t arrive gift-wrapped from the North Pole, it did come from Denver, where it also snows a lot.
In his second game since being acquired from the Denver Broncos, Sanders provided the 49ers offense with the one element it was lacking – a downfield pass-catching threat.
Two weeks. Two TDs.@ESanders_10 scores another TD for the @49ers! #GoNiners
📺: #SFvsAZ on @NFLNetwork | @NFLonFOX | @PrimeVideo
How to watch: https://t.co/I6INVckndX pic.twitter.com/oIC54o6GvM— NFL (@NFL) November 1, 2019
Sanders, 32, caught seven balls for 112 yards and his second touchdown in as many games, all while being covered by All-Pro cornerback Patrick Peterson. It’s evident that Sanders and Garoppolo have found instant chemistry. As well, it’s enabled San Francisco’s offense to become a more well-rounded unit.
Emanuel Sanders changes everything for the 49ers’ offense. Just look at how great Garoppolo has been in his two games.
46-of-59 passing, 78%, 492 yards, 6 TD, 1 INT, 128 rating and 49ers are averaging 39.5 PPG.
— Vincent Frank (@VincentFrankNFL) November 1, 2019
Through the Niners’ first seven wins, a 1-2 punch at running back of the speedy, elusive Matt Brieda and the inside power game of Tevin Coleman was their bread and butter. Now, the threat of Sanders completes the unit. It also makes tight end George Kittle more effective, and takes some of the coverage attention away from rookie wideout Deebo Samuel.
Jimmy Eats World
Garoppolo enjoyed by far his best game of the season in the win over the Cardinals. Mostly what he’d done through the first seven victories was work as a game manager under center. Thursday, he went off.
During the 7-0 run, Garoppolo was decent but far from spectacular. He completed 69.8 percent of his passes His yardage average was 212 per game. Garoppolo threw for nine TDs but was picked off seven times.
.@JimmyG_10 throws his fourth TD of the night!
A 21-yard toss to Dante Pettis 👀 @dmainy_13 #GoNiners
📺: #SFvsAZ on @NFLNetwork | @NFLonFOX | @PrimeVideo
How to watch: https://t.co/I6INVckndX pic.twitter.com/ABjxziNiTW— NFL (@NFL) November 1, 2019
Thursday, he went for 317 yards, four TDs and completed 75.7 percent of his aerials (28-of-37). Niners coach Kyle Shanahan described it as Garoppolo’s best game of the season.
It’s Getting Better All the Time
Already with NFL’s #2 overall defense (241 yards per game), #1 pass defense (138.1 ypg) and #2 rushing attack (171.1 ypg), San Francisco can now pass the ball.
But wait – there’s more.
Heading into their bye week, the 49ers next take the field November 11 to face the Seattle Seahawks, the one NFC West rival they’ve yet to face. They figure to be a well-rested and fortified team by then.
Kyle Shanahan still has a target date of Nov. 11 (vs. Seahawks) to get Staley, Kyle Juszczyk and Mike McGlinchey back.#49ers
— Keiana Martin (@KeianaMartinTV) October 29, 2019
All Pro Joe Staley (fibula) and Mike McGlinchey (knee), both of San Francisco’s starting tackles, and fullback Kyle Juszczyk (knee) are expected back from injury for that game.
For the 49ers, you’ve got to admit it’s getting better. A little better all the time.
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
