San Francisco is planning to start a rookie selected with the final pick in the NFL draft — an injured one, at that — but the 49ers are still favored on the road at division rival Seattle on Thursday night.
Rookie Brock Purdy reportedly will start for the 49ers just four days after suffering rib and oblique injuries in a victory over Miami.
San Francisco (9-4) is seeking to clinch the NFC West title against Seattle (7-6), which has lost three of its past four games.
The 49ers have held steady as 3.5-point favorites at DraftKings, drawing 71 percent of the spread-line bets and 53 percent of the money despite Purdy’s uncertain status leading up to game day.
The line is also 3.5 at BetMGM, where the spread action has been split; San Francisco is drawing 64 percent of the bets but Seattle is garnering 70 percent of the money.
PROP PICKS
49ers RB Christian McCaffrey to Score 1st TD (+450 at BetMGM): The most popular player prop at BetMGM and DraftKings, the latter offers a slightly lower payout at +425, where it has drawn 23 percent of the bets and 30 percent of the 1st Touchdown Scorer action. McCaffrey has six touchdowns in his past six games and will be a menace for a Seahawks defense ranked 31st against the run.
Seahawks QB Geno Smith Under 1.5 Passing TDs (-165 at BetMGM/DraftKings): Smith is coming off his first multi-interception game of the season and failed to throw a touchdown pass in the first meeting. Minus a threatening ground game, Smith is at the mercy of his young offensive line against the league’s top-ranked defense.
Seahawks RB Kenneth Walker III Under 49.5 Rushing Yards (-110 at BetMGM): Walker has missed most of the past two games due to a knee injury and had rushed for a combined 43 yards in his previous two games. The run blocking has been an issue, and while Walker has the ability to pop a big one at any time, he also takes a lot of negative carries. San Francisco is allowing a league-low 75.1 yards per game on the ground.
PREDICTION
The Seahawks have allowed more than 800 rushing yards in losing three of their past four. The 49ers will run it down their throat until Seattle proves it can stop it – and excellent recipe for success on the road in primetime with a seventh-round rookie quarterback. — 49ers 23, Seahawks 16
–Field Level Media
