Disaster struck. And then disaster struck again.
Trey Lance’s ankle injury would have derailed a franchise with…less annoying roster management. But Kyle Shanahan, in his infinite wisdom, decided to keep Jimmy Garoppolo for moments like these. It worked, better than anticipated at that. Garoppolo hadn’t experienced the scheduled blow ups of previous years and led the San Francisco 49ers to a 7-3 record in games he finished.
His fractured foot suffered in #NFLWeek13 puts San Francisco in a peculiar spot, somewhere behind square one. However, Brock Purdy came to the rescue, leading the 49ers to a win against the electric ⚡️ Miami Dolphins 🐬. Does Purdy keep their Super Bowl chances alive?
Purdy’s Big Day
In relief of Garoppolo, Purdy went 25/37 for 210 yards and two scores. San Francisco won, 33-17. In the wake of disaster, the last pick in the 2022 NFL draft stepped up to the plate. Of course, the question remains: can he keep it up?
For 90% of quarterbacks and teams, the answer is a definitive “no.” But Shanahan’s offense convolutes the answer.
Whether it be Nick Mullens, C.J. Beathard, or the passer who brought them to a Super Bowl, the 49ers have made things work. His wide zone offense seems to elevate even the most mediocre passers. A supporting cast that consists of Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, and Christian McCaffrey, among others, only adds to this effect.
Purdy epitomizing the game manager mold keeps the 49ers in position to win games. However, Shanahan’s 49ers have never made the playoffs without Garoppolo. Purdy will be tasked with maintaining a level of play lesser than most postseason quarterbacks, but just how much mediocrity can they get away with?
There’s no guarantee Purdy can keep San Francisco dangerous, but he should keep them alive.
How should you bet on the 49ers?
Shanahan’s squad is still a near lock (-1400) to make the playoffs. At 8-4, the likelihood of a nuclear-level fall out of the playoff race is slim to none, regardless of who is quarterbacking.
What should be considered a lock, though, is that they won’t receive the first-round bye. Thus, they’ll be playing on Wildcard Weekend. There’s very little clarity on who they’ll play, but the likeliest scenarios could involve the lesser teams of the NFC East and the rival Seattle Seahawks.
Surveying the odds has steered me away from betting on the Niners’ playoff hopes, in either direction. The most value to be had is found on a week-to-week basis. Per Caesars, the spread for #NFLWeek14’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is set at -3.5. That is to say, for the first time ever, a rookie quarterback making his starting debut will be a favorite against the greatest to ever play the position 😳.
Be wary of the Buccaneers’ offensive woes, but don’t be scared to take advantage of a unique opportunity like this. A Tom Brady team will never be underdogs against such an inferior quarterback again.
If you want to get in on the ground floor, Caesars’ -115 odds for Tampa Bay to either win or lose by three points or less is a solid way to start. Use their unique promotion for Bet Basics readers (GET YOUR FIRST BET BACK UP TO $1,000) and let the GOAT work for you. 🐐