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San Francisco 49ers Game-by-Game Predictions

Trey Lance Era Begins in Bay Area

The San Francisco 49ers’ hype train is steaming ahead and the question marks hanging over newly minted starting quarterback Trey Lance are no exception.

The San Francisco 49ers are coming off a 10-7-0 record followed by an impressive run into the NFC Championship Game. That was the work of the Jimmy Garoppolo-led Niners, however, is conveniently overlooked. It’s all about the Niners as a team and bookmakers are high on them.

Trey Lance #5 of the San Francisco 49ers warms up before the game against the Minnesota Vikings
Trey Lance - Ezra Shaw/Getty Images/AFP

The Niners are priced as the second-best bet to win the NFC West at +175. They’re also the +800 bet to win the NFC and the +1600 bet to win Super Bowl LVII. At the same time, the win total is projected to be 10, albeit with the under juiced ever so slightly as we look at the latest BetUS NFL betting markets.

If you’re a forward-thinking NFL bettor, as we are, then read on for our way-too-early game-by-game predictions for the San Francisco 49ers. We dive into their NFL schedule, examine the NFL odds, and take into consideration the latest NFL news, trades, injury reports, and more before delivering our NFL predictions.

2022 NFL Futures – San Francisco 49ers

    • Super Bowl LVII +1600
    • NFC Conference +800
    • NFC West +175
    • Regular Season Win Totals O 10 (-105) / U 10 (-105)
  • San Francisco 49ers Game-by-Game Preview & Predictions

Week 1 at Chicago Bears – Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022, 1 p.m. ET

This is the first meeting between Justin Fields and Trey Lance in the NFL after both quarterbacks emerged from the 2021 NFL Draft. Fields has more NFL starts (10) under his belt than Lance (2) does, but the latter is on the better team. For what it’s worth, the markets hold the Niners in high regard despite Lance’s glaring lack of experience at the quarterback position. For those looking for signs that moving away from “GQ Jimmy” was the right decision. this isn’t the game to prove it. Fields might have more experience, but the Bears are expected to be terrible.

  • Prediction: Win
  • Record: 1-0

Week 2 vs Chicago Bears– Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022, 4:05 p.m. ET

Another team that is expected to struggle behind questionable quarterback play is Seattle. The Seahawks appear to be entering 2022 with Geno Smith or Drew Lock as their offensive pivot. That makes this another winnable game for the Niners. But don’t pull out the pompoms if Lance and the Niners are off to a 2-0 straight-up start. Beating two questionable teams in back-to-back games is hardly going to be a ringing endorsement of this quarterback.

  • Prediction: Win
  • Record: 2-0

Week 3 at Denver Broncos – Sunday, Sept 25, 2022, 8:20 p.m. ET

Russell Wilson’s trade instantly made the Denver Broncos one of the trendy NFL picks ahead of the season. Whether the Broncos stay on trend, though, is debatable. But this is going to be the first real test of the Niners with Lance as the starter – and, dare it to be said, one that he could fail miserably at Mile High with a national audience watching.

  • Prediction: Loss
  • Record: 2-1

Week 4 vs Los Angeles Rams – Monday, Oct. 2, 2022, 8:15 p.m. ET

Not only is this one of the most compelling NFC West rivalries, but this is also a rematch of the NFC Championship Game. The Garoppolo-led Niners swept the regular season series. But Matthew Stafford and Co. returned the favor in the postseason, edging the Niners 20-17 to narrowly win the NFC title game on the way to Super Bowl 56 glory. It’s hard to see how the playing field stays level now when it’s a total mismatch at the QB position. Put it simply: If the game is on the line, who do you bet on? Stafford, of course, until proven otherwise.

  • Prediction: Loss
  • Record: 2-2
Matthew Stafford #9 of the Los Angeles Rams attempts a pass during training camp at University of California Irvine
Matthew Stafford – Scott Taetsch/Getty Images/AFP

Week 5 at Carolina Panthers – Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022, 4:05 p.m. ET

Is Baker Mayfield the answer at quarterback for the Carolina Panthers? Matt Rhule (10-23 after two seasons in the NFL) certainly hopes so, otherwise, his hot seat is only going to get hotter with each passing week. The long and short of it is: The Panthers will go as far as Mayfield takes them and … well, he’s on a bit of a revenge tour after Cleveland gave him the boot. It’s a toss-up, but we’re chalking it as a road loss here.

  • Prediction: Loss
  • Record: 2-3

Week 6 at Atlanta Falcons – Sunday, Oct. 16, 2022, 1 p.m. ET

The Niners beat the Falcons 31-13 last season. Both the Falcons and Niners are starting new quarterbacks in 2022, but everyone is very quick to write off former Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota at the expense of Lance. That’s interesting. Regardless if you’re buying (or not) what Mariota’s Falcons are selling overall, the best team doesn’t always win. This could be a trap game.

  • Prediction: Loss
  • Record: Record 2-4

Week 7 vs Kansas City Chiefs – Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022, 4:25 p.m. ET

Kansas City’s offseason moves are dividing opinion. There’s a feeling in some circles that the Chiefs are poised to take a step back while in others they’re primed to pick up from where they left off. Whichever way you’re slicing the Chiefs, surely, at least as far as this matchup is concerned, there’s no question about which team has the better quarterback.

  • Prediction: Loss
  • Record: 2-5

Week 8 at Los Angeles Rams – Sunday, Oct. 30, 2022, 4:25 p.m. ET

Shanahan’s new toy under center will be happy to see the bye week. It’s bad enough to have to face the Rams twice in a season, but to do it after facing the Chiefs could be deemed cruel and unusual punishment.

  • Prediction: Loss
  • Record: 2-6

Week 9 Bye

Week 10 vs Los Angeles Chargers – Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022, 8:20 p.m. ET

Justin Herbert’s first two seasons in the league and, simultaneously, head coach Brandon Staley’s first season with the Chargers are generating genuine buzz about this team entering 2022. Add the improvements made in the offseason on both sides of the ball and the Chargers are quite rightly legitimate contenders. Herbert is today what the Niners hope Lance will be in a year or two.

  • Prediction: Loss
  • Record: 2-7
Justin Herbert #10 of the Los Angeles Chargers and AFC warms up before the 2022 NFL Pro Bowl
Justin Herbert – Ethan Miller/Getty Images/AFP

Week 11 vs Arizona Cardinals – Monday, Nov. 21, 2022, 8 p.m. ET (Mexico City)

Lance made his NFL debut as a starter against the Cardinals in Week 5, but it was a losing effort as the Niners lost 17-10 in Glendale. With this NFC West showdown being scheduled in Mexico City this year, the neutral ground levels the playing field. The Cardinals’ offense is further along in the maturation process with Kyler Murray and that tips the balance in their favor for this Monday Night Football game.

  • Prediction: Loss
  • Record: 2-8

Week 12 vs New Orleans Saints – Sunday, Nov. 27, 2022, 4:25 p.m. ET

Everyone seems bullish about the New Orleans Saints this season, but yours truly isn’t lapping up the hype. A lot hinges on Jameis Winston’s recovery from an ACL injury and the team’s adjustment to new head coach Dennis Allen. In the past, Winston’s propensity for throwing interceptions was legendary. The Niners’ defense can pressure Winston into those uncomfortable situations.

  • Prediction: Win
  • Record: 3-8

Week 13 vs Miami Dolphins – Sunday, Dec. 4, 2022, 4:05 p.m. ET

The Dolphins have seen their stock go up for no reason other than hype. They could be a playoff contender or a total bust (leaning toward the latter, tbh). The jury is out on Tua Tagovailoa, even though he has some enviable weapons such as Tyreek Hill to work with this season. The Niners’ defense could give the former Alabama product some headaches.

  • Prediction: Win
  • Record: 4-8

Week 14 vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Sunday, Dec. 11, 4:25 p.m. ET

Two words: Tom Brady. If that doesn’t sell it, here’s a few more. The 45-year-old is playing some of his best football right now. He broke every single record imaginable in 2021 and the Buccaneers were the winningest team in the league, matched only by the Packers with a 13-4-0 record.

  • Prediction: Loss
  • Record: 4-9
Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers looks on during Buccaneers Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center in Tampa
Tom Brady – Julio Cesar Aguilar / Getty Images North America / Afp

Week 15 at Seattle Seahawks – Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022, 8:15 p.m. ET

If there is a divisional opponent the Niners will sweep in 2022, money is on the Seahawks, who could be looking ahead to the 2023 NFL draft at this point in the season.

  • Prediction: Win
  • Record: 5-9

Week 16 vs Washington Commanders – Saturday, Dec. 24, 2022, 4:05 p.m. ET

Carson Wentz led the Colts to a victory at Levi Stadium last season. He returns for a second straight year, but this time as the quarterback of the Commanders. The Commanders’ defense is no slouch and this could turn into a slugfest that could go either way.

  • Prediction: Loss
  • Record: 5-10

Week 17 at Las Vegas Raiders – Sunday, Jan. 1, 2022, 4:25 p.m. ET

If the Raiders’ offense lives up to its potential, they’ll be tough to beat. Derek Carr isn’t elite, but he’s solid and experienced enough to get the best out of the new toys he’s got this season.

  • Prediction: Loss
  • Record: 5-11

Week 18 vs Arizona Cardinals – Sunday, Jan. 8, 2022, TBD

So long as the Cardinals aren’t throwing their toys out of the pram at this stage, they should be in the hunt for a playoff spot. That puts a premium on the win here.

  • Prediction: Loss
  • Record: 5-12

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