KANSAS CITY -3 1/2 over San Francisco
San Francisco vs. Kansas City UNDER 38
The San Francisco 49ers will usher in the Dennis Erickson era Saturday night, when they open up the preseason against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. Erickson will have big shoes to fill after the 49ers released long time coach Steve Mariucci. The former Oregon State head man inherits a solid team that is still reeling from a spanking at the hands of eventual Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay in the Divisional round of the NFC playoffs.
Kansas City began its preseason slate with a rain-shortened 9-0 win over Green Bay in the Hall of Fame Game on Monday and looked very impressive on defense. We look for the focus on the "D" side of the ball to continue for head coach Dick Vermeil in this contest. The training-camp emphasis has been on getting all 11 men to the ball and it's paying off. There's a strong feeling in the Cheifs camp that THIS is their year, Vermeil's 3rd in KC. We also look for a little more offensive spark from the offense that simply led the league in scoring last season. Starter Trent Green will play the 1st Q, Todd Collins the 2nd Q, and Jonathan Quinn and, perhaps, Marc Dunn in the second half. Green is having a fantastic camp and will clearly be one of the top AFC QBs this season. Backup quarterback Todd Collins is very capable and steady. He completed 12 of his 16 attempts for 126 yards vs. the Packers Monday. We also expect to see more from Priest Holmes and Larry Johnson in this loaded offense. While they won't show nearly everything in their playbook, they have too much talent to not put a few points on the board.
That's certainly more than can be said about the 49ers for this contest. THREE Pro Bowl offensive players will little or no time on the field. QB Jeff Garcia will be watching the game from his easy chair in California, resting his bulging disk. All-World WR Terrell Owens is nursing a pulled groin and will play one series, if at all. The same goes for C Jeremy Newberry. RB Garrison Hearst is also hobbled. Did we mention that San Francisco is hurting on offense. This leaves the cupboard pretty bare, especially when you look at their QB rotation for the game. Tim Rattay will play the 1st Q+, Brandon Doman the 2nd Q, and rookie Ken Dorsey in the second half. While talented, these young signal-callers are raw and lacking much, if any, game experience. They will have their hands more than full with a fired-up Chiefs defense.
Looking at some numbers we note that San Fran is just 3-9 ATS in early and Week 1 pre-season play, while KC is 6-2 ATS in early/Week 1 play and were headed for another SU and spread win Monday whent the game was called. HC Vermeil is a blistering 10-1 SU/9-2 ATS home vs. NFC teams in practice games, and the Chiefs are 6-1 ATS on a grass field over the the 3 exhibition seasons. A couple of PRO INFO SPORTS Pre-season Power Systems support a side play on Kansas City as well. Teams off playing in the annual Hall of Fame game are a nifty 26-12-3 ATS and teams at home off a neutral site win are a super 35-13-1 ATS. The weather also figures to be in the home team's favor. The Niners are a bit pampered, having their camp this summer in mild-weathered Santa Clara while the Chiefs have been sweating it out in the sweltering Midwest. It will be very hot and humid for this game with a chance of some showers. San Francisco is simply not accustomed to such muggy conditions and it may show in the 2nd half. Of course, if it rains, that can only help to keep the scoring down as we also see a very solid investment opportunity with the total. The NFL is 8-4 UNDER off playing in the Hall of Fame game, while San Francisco is 6-2 UNDER vs. AFC West opponents over the last 3 pre-seasons. With little punch from the 49ers and a conservative offensive game from the Chiefs we clearly like KC and the UNDER.
San Francisco vs. Kansas City UNDER 38
The San Francisco 49ers will usher in the Dennis Erickson era Saturday night, when they open up the preseason against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. Erickson will have big shoes to fill after the 49ers released long time coach Steve Mariucci. The former Oregon State head man inherits a solid team that is still reeling from a spanking at the hands of eventual Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay in the Divisional round of the NFC playoffs.
Kansas City began its preseason slate with a rain-shortened 9-0 win over Green Bay in the Hall of Fame Game on Monday and looked very impressive on defense. We look for the focus on the "D" side of the ball to continue for head coach Dick Vermeil in this contest. The training-camp emphasis has been on getting all 11 men to the ball and it's paying off. There's a strong feeling in the Cheifs camp that THIS is their year, Vermeil's 3rd in KC. We also look for a little more offensive spark from the offense that simply led the league in scoring last season. Starter Trent Green will play the 1st Q, Todd Collins the 2nd Q, and Jonathan Quinn and, perhaps, Marc Dunn in the second half. Green is having a fantastic camp and will clearly be one of the top AFC QBs this season. Backup quarterback Todd Collins is very capable and steady. He completed 12 of his 16 attempts for 126 yards vs. the Packers Monday. We also expect to see more from Priest Holmes and Larry Johnson in this loaded offense. While they won't show nearly everything in their playbook, they have too much talent to not put a few points on the board.
That's certainly more than can be said about the 49ers for this contest. THREE Pro Bowl offensive players will little or no time on the field. QB Jeff Garcia will be watching the game from his easy chair in California, resting his bulging disk. All-World WR Terrell Owens is nursing a pulled groin and will play one series, if at all. The same goes for C Jeremy Newberry. RB Garrison Hearst is also hobbled. Did we mention that San Francisco is hurting on offense. This leaves the cupboard pretty bare, especially when you look at their QB rotation for the game. Tim Rattay will play the 1st Q+, Brandon Doman the 2nd Q, and rookie Ken Dorsey in the second half. While talented, these young signal-callers are raw and lacking much, if any, game experience. They will have their hands more than full with a fired-up Chiefs defense.
Looking at some numbers we note that San Fran is just 3-9 ATS in early and Week 1 pre-season play, while KC is 6-2 ATS in early/Week 1 play and were headed for another SU and spread win Monday whent the game was called. HC Vermeil is a blistering 10-1 SU/9-2 ATS home vs. NFC teams in practice games, and the Chiefs are 6-1 ATS on a grass field over the the 3 exhibition seasons. A couple of PRO INFO SPORTS Pre-season Power Systems support a side play on Kansas City as well. Teams off playing in the annual Hall of Fame game are a nifty 26-12-3 ATS and teams at home off a neutral site win are a super 35-13-1 ATS. The weather also figures to be in the home team's favor. The Niners are a bit pampered, having their camp this summer in mild-weathered Santa Clara while the Chiefs have been sweating it out in the sweltering Midwest. It will be very hot and humid for this game with a chance of some showers. San Francisco is simply not accustomed to such muggy conditions and it may show in the 2nd half. Of course, if it rains, that can only help to keep the scoring down as we also see a very solid investment opportunity with the total. The NFL is 8-4 UNDER off playing in the Hall of Fame game, while San Francisco is 6-2 UNDER vs. AFC West opponents over the last 3 pre-seasons. With little punch from the 49ers and a conservative offensive game from the Chiefs we clearly like KC and the UNDER.
