Consistently winning double-digit games is a calling card of a strong organization in the NFL.
The New England Patriots, for example, have won at least 10 games in 17 straight seasons.
Last season, the 49ers came out of nowhere to win 13 games and secure the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs. Coach Kyle Shanahan and Co. were projected by many sportsbooks to win around eight games, so the team blew past expectations on the way to a Super Bowl LIV berth.
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That won’t be as easy in 2020, as the Niners have a preseason over/under win total at 10.5 per BetMGM, which is the third-highest of all NFL teams. Only the reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs (11.5) and MVP-led Baltimore Ravens (11) are ahead of the 49ers.
An uptick in confidence from the sportsbooks is understandable, especially considering San Francisco returns most of the team’s starters from a year ago.
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The potential of adding an immediate-impact type of player with the No. 13 overall pick in April’s draft makes this roster even more intriguing.
San Francisco 49ers
But these lines are made to encourage as much action as possible on both sides, and it’s entirely plausible that San Francisco regresses from the dominant team we saw in 2019.
The Niners won five one-possession games a season ago, and some of those results could flip the other way.
One thing is for sure: expect to see a lot of the 49ers on national TV this upcoming season.