Odds Favor the 49ers Missing the 2020-2021 NFL Playoffs

• The San Francisco 49ers are tied for last in the NFC West with a 2-2 record
• The oddsmakers now favor the 49ers to miss the playoffs only one year after they represented the NFC in the Super Bowl
• Are the 49ers worth betting on to turn it around and return to the postseason?

Only eight teams in NFL history have reached the Super Bowl a season after losing it.

While a second straight appearance in the big game would be nice, the odds show the expectations for the San Francisco 49ers have shifted.

Prior to the season the 49ers were listed at -382 odds to make the playoffs. Only the New Orleans Saints were given better odds of making the postseason. Oh, how times have changed.

After a 2-2 start and SNF loss to the woeful Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco is now favored to miss the playoffs entirely.

 San Francisco 49ers Odds to Make NFL Playoffs

Odds as of Oct. 7th at FanDuel

Injuries Have Hit Hard

Finding a team in the NFL that has had worse injury luck than the 49ers would be a tough task. The team lost defensive centerpieces Nick Bosa and Soloman Thomas for the year.

They have been without quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo for several games and have also seen Raheem Mostert, Tevin Coleman, Deebo Samuel and George Kittle miss time. While they weren’t all season ending injuries, most of the players to return have been slowed to some extent.

Under Kyle Shanahan, the 49ers’ record (assuming a loss here):

When Jimmy Garoppolo starts: 22-7

When someone else starts: 5-22

— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) October 5, 2020

Kittle appears to be the exception. Despite having played only two games, he already has 19 catches for 227 yards and a touchdown. Kittle could be getting his starting quarterback Garoppolo back soon, which should only help his ability to pile up the stats.

Both Kittle and Garoppolo will need to play at a Pro Bowl level if the 49ers are going to climb back into the playoff picture. Even with their dynamic duo on the field together, the hill might be too steep to climb.

NFC West the NFL’s Best Division

Another reason the 49ers odds to make the NFL playoffs are so low is the division they play in. The NFC West is a four team gauntlet that doesn’t provide much room for error.

The Seattle Seahawks are led by MVP frontrunner Russell Wilson and have yet to lose a game this season.

One game behind them are the Los Angeles Rams who have the best defensive player in the game in Aaron Donald causing havoc on every play. Even the Arizona Cardinals appear to be much improved. Quarterback Kyler Murray has had a good start to the season and off-season addition Deandre Hopkins is as advertised.

Four weeks down, who's your MVP? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/z3tSCVzDPQ

— NFL GameDay (@NFLGameDay) October 6, 2020

No division in the NFL has more than two teams with a positive point differential except the NFC West. All four teams in the NFC West have scored more points than they have allowed. San Francisco has only played one game in the division, a loss to the Cardinals in Week 1. With five games left against the toughest division in football, it’s clear to see why the odds are what they are.

Swoon in San Fran to Continue

There appears to be too much working against San Francisco this season. It would have been a tough road even with a full roster of talent and that’s something they simply don’t have right now. Their two wins have come against the New York Jets and the New York Giants. Those are NFL teams, but barely.

The 49ers have one more easy game before a stretch that will see them face the Rams twice, Patriots, Seahawks, Packers, Saints and Bills. They could very well be underdogs in every single one of those games. Fade the 49ers and fade them confidently.

The Pick: San Francisco 49ers Miss Playoffs (-138)