The 49ers find themselves in a very unique position Sunday in Seattle. They’re the favorites according to sports betting site Bet MGM, which has San Francisco favored by 3.5 points over the Seahawks.
Home teams generally get three points just for being at home, so the 49ers giving 3.5 is pretty significant. They haven’t been favored at Seattle since Week 16 of the 2011 season when they were giving 2.5 points. That was also the last time they earned a road win in Seattle.
Given the Seahawks’ injury situation – they’re down three running backs, their starting left tackle and have multiple players on defense dealing with injuries – it’s not a huge surprise the 49ers are getting some love from sports books in Week 17.
It’s also worth noting the Seahawks only won their first meeting by three in overtime in a game the 49ers didn’t have George Kittle and lost Emmanuel Sanders halfway through the contest.
On paper it makes sense San Francisco is favored. However, the Seattle cloud has hung over the 49ers every trip to the Pacific Northwest since the 42-13 beatdown the Seahawks put on the 49ers at CenturyLink Field in 2012. Seattle has won the last seven games vs. San Francisco at home, and none of them have been particularly competitive.
Sports books believe in the 49ers though, and while that’s a good, early sign, they still have to go in and take care of business against a well-coached, talented Seahawks club that will surely use their underdog status as a little added motivation in a game that’ll decide the NFC West.
