Ramming It Home
If the San Francisco 49ers were a stock, this might be a time to sell.
That doesn't mean you can't buy them back later. The NFL season is still a long way from over, but right now they are quite a bit out of sorts for being the defending NFC champions.
Just look at some of the infomation provided in Bovada's data tool on the Home page and you'll see for yourself.
There are the dreadful numbers like the Niners' points per game at 14.7, good for 29th in the NFL. Their defensive numbers don't get much better; San Francisco is giving up 28 points a game, which ranks 25th. These are hardly the numbers that would make you think they are only a year removed from a run to the Super Bowl, but they are.
The 49ers' downfall comes as somewhat of a surprise, but if you go back to a pre-season article I wrote -- Propping Up the NFL Season -- I thought the 2013 season might be a lot tougher road than last year's.
So, after losing two straight blowouts, the Niners must now head to St Louis on a short week for a tough divisional game with the Rams. St. Louis has yet to cover this season in three tries, but the Rams have been very good at covering in their division, cashing for their backers in seven of their last eight games against NFC West foes.
San Francisco, on the other hand, has not covered in their last five NFC West games. And if you head back to the data tool, you will find the Rams have covered in four of the last five meetings between these two teams.
I not only am backing the Rams tonight, but will be bypassing the points and going for value.
Bovada's money line has a Rams straight-up win paying +150, and that is a play well worth making.
I think it's too early for San Francisco to push the panic button, but the short week for an intradivision road game isn't the remedy to fix all that they need fixing.
My pick: St Louis Rams money line +150
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UPDATE:
Result ... San Francisco 35 St Louis 11 49ers cover
Steve Soprano is the founder and handicapper at www.premierticketsports.com.