THE REAL ANIMAL
Pick title: 3* San Francisco +9
Pick Date: 12/15/2007
Pick description:
I?ll be first in line to tell you San Francisco is a bad football team, but there?s no way I can stomach laying more than a touchdown on the road with Cincinnati. The Bengals have produced just 18 sacks, the lowest figure in the league through 13 games. This team virtually lost their entire starting linebacker chore two months ago. On offense Rudy Johnson is averaging a pathetic 3.0 yards per carry and only has 481 rushing yards with four touchdowns on the season. Carson Palmer has been extremely erratic recently. He threw four interceptions recently against Arizona. He then completed just 17-of-44 against Pittsburgh and last week threw two more interceptions. This team has no heart or character and just can?t be trusted laying big points, especially on the road where they are 1-7 SU in their last eight. While they haven?t displayed exceptional pass defense, the 49ers still have Nate Clemens and Walt Harris in the secondary. San Francisco has floundered on offense and are last in the league overall. But anybody has to be better than Trent Dilfer and third-string Shaun Hill gets his first career start after six seasons of holding a clipboard with Minnesota and San Francisco. Hill completed 22-of-27 passes for 181 yards in last week?s 20-point defeat to Minnesota. The recently signed Chris Weinke will be the backup. You wouldn?t know it by the score, but the 49ers actually out-gained the Vikings last week and held Minnesota to just 11 first downs. That?s amazing considering they lost turnovers 5-1. The fact that Cincinnati could not cover last Sunday against at home against the lowly Rams playing with 3rd-string QB Brock Berlin isn?t a glowing endorsement today. Cincinnati is #26 in total defense, #22 against the run, and #26 versus the pass. The 49ers are ?13 in turnovers on the season but if they can play even in miscues with the Bengals they have a legitimate shot, especially considering they are traveling across the country with short preparation. During their 40-year history, the Bengals are 12-31 on the west coast. Frank Gore ran hard last week against Minnesota and I think the combo of he and Hill can at least keep SF competitive. Bottom line: It?s hard to justify wagering on this game as the 49ers have covered just three games all season and are 1-10 SU in their last 11. If Frisco is ever going to produce points it will come against the Cincinnati defense, which has already yielded 51 at Cleveland, 27 at Kansas City, and 33 at Buffalo. 3* 49ers +9.
Pick title: 3* San Francisco 'OVER' 42 1/2
Pick Date: 12/15/2007
Pick description:
The last two games San Francisco has played against non-playoff contenders the final scores totaled 68 and 45 points. That was at Carolina and at Arizona. None of the six San Francisco home games have produced more than 41 points this season. Cincinnati has played ?UNDER? in three straight and 6/7. The last two were certainly weather related, as rain was prevalent in both Pittsburgh and at home against St. Louis. Mother Nature will not be a factor tonight. What I like about this total is we have a low figure with two quarterbacks who should not receive any pressure. The Bengals have a league low 18 sacks in 13 games. San Francisco is #19 in sacks. Cincinnati had a season-high 192 rushing yards against St. Louis. Both teams are anemic against the run. The 49ers are #25 while Cincinnati is #26. The 49ers attempted 47 passes last week and today?s starter Shaun Hill, was 22-of-28 and obviously far better than Trent Dilfer?s pathetic 7-of-19 performance for 45 yards. Anybody with an arm and two legs has to be better than Dilfer. I know San Francisco has been dismal offensively throughout the season. But the Bengals are a nightmare defensively. Don?t be misled by team totals compiled by Pittsburgh and St. Louis the last two games in the rain. Plus the Rams were playing with their 3rd string quarterback. San Francisco is 6-2 ?OVER? in their last eight versus the AFC at home. Cincinnati is 9-3 ?OVER? as a non-divisional road favorite. The Bengals allow 25 points per game but something tells me Palmer and that talented receiving unit will produce points tonight. The last time these two teams met the quarterbacks were Jeff Garcia and Jon Kitna so you can throw out any history. Once again a lousy game involving two teams going nowhere. 3* ?OVER? 42 ?.