The San Francisco 49ers and the Las Vegas Raiders each have something to prove this season, but in very different ways.
Sunday’s visiting 49ers have been a near-constant in the Super Bowl discussion in the Kyle Shanahan era, but still have yet to win their sixth title. Meanwhile, the Raiders have to bounce back after a terrible 6-11 season which saw them miss out on the playoffs.
As usual, a lot of this preseason discussion is about who isn’t there, whether that’s starting quarterbacks or Raiders running back Josh Jacobs, who is holding out. Don’t miss our NFL picks and predictions for 49ers vs Raiders on Sunday, August 13.
49ers vs Raiders odds
49ers vs Raiders predictions
Sunday sees the 49ers face the Raiders at Allegiant Stadium after a long week of joint scrimmages. Both Kyle Shanahan and Josh McDaniels know the importance of preseason in developing the chemistry and understanding on their roster, but both are also aware of the risks and dangers that it can bring.
As always with preseason in the NFL, it’s about who isn’t playing with teams being careful around their biggest stars, notably the quarterbacks. After all, given that it’s effectively a meaningless game, why would you risk the players on which your season — and your job security if you’re a coach — depends on?
The fact we are going to see both teams be careful with their starters is obviously a disappointment as viewers, but it can give us an edge as a bettor. After looking at the quarterbacking situations in both teams, it’s clear to me that the best bet for 49ers vs. Raiders has be the San Francisco -3.5. I love that line, and I’d be happy to take it all the way to -6, as I feel that confident in the ability of the 49ers backups to get it done in Vegas.
We know that the Raiders will not be playing Jimmy Garoppolo or veteran Brian Hoyer. That means that we’re going to see plenty of Aidan O’Connell and Chase Garbers.
While Brian Hoyer isn’t a starting-level QB in the NFL, he’s hugely experienced and would have been more than capable of leading a second-string offense in preseason.
The news of Garoppolo being sidelined is great news for us 49ers -3.5 bettors, even if it robs us of a storyline around the QB facing his former team. Garoppolo was a consistent performer for the Niners during his time there, and had he played in this game he would have instantly raised the levels of the Raiders team.
Aidan O’Connell was drafted in the fourth round of this year’s NFL Draft after having spent five years at Purdue. He was only a starter in his final two years, but he did enough for the Raiders to select him. He’s still learning in this league, and there’s little evidence pointing to him being able to lead this offense against a second-string 49ers defense that still has some talented players.
That brings us to San Francisco and who is playing under center for them, which is the main reason that I’m backing the Niners to cover here. Kyle Shanahan’s 4-1 moneyline record in the opening week of preseason doesn’t hurt either.
We’ve had confirmation from Shanahan that although there’ll be no Brock Purdy on Sunday, we will see Trey Lance get the start, with Sam Darnold playing the second half of the game.
While neither Lance nor Darnold have lived up to what was hoped of them when they were both drafted third overall in their respective NFL Drafts, they’re still talented players and give the 49ers the edge here. I’m also not totally convinced that the QB competition in San Francisco is as over as some people think it is, and I imagine both men believe they’re still in contention to start in Week 1.
Lance has struggled since being drafted in 2021 but he’s been hugely unlucky with injuries. He can grab this game by the neck on Sunday and show his ability with both his arm and legs, something which will help the offense put up points.
Likewise, the experience of Darnold will be important to help the team keep and extend the lead in the second half. Let’s not forget that earlier in camp we were hearing glowing reviews about how he was performing.
Back the 49ers -3.5 here. It may be preseason and we have to urge caution, but this really does feel like a great opportunity.
My best bet: 49ers -3.5 (-115 at BetMGM)
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