San Francisco 49ers have made an excellent start to the season and are one of just three teams to remain unbeaten through four weeks, but that perfect record faces a stern test against the defending Super Bowl champions on their home turf.
The Niners made a statement start to the season with their 27-7 win over LA Rams in Melbourne, Australia, and kept the ball rolling with a trio of home successes - 35-13 over Miami and 36-30 over Arizona, with last week's 24-14 win over Denver taking them to 4-0 and top of the NFC West.
Now they are on the road, going to Lumen Field to take on Seattle Seahawks who are just behind them in the division with a 3-1 record, and 2-0 at home.
The Seahawks edged a repeat of the Super Bowl in a 13-10 opening win over the Patriots before crushing the Cardinals 31-7 in Glendale.
Seattle's perfect start was ended by a surprise 33-31 loss at Washington, but they bounced back last week with a 30-23 win over the Chargers, ultimately surviving Los Angeles' fightback, having been 20-3 and 27-6 up in that game.
Sunday's game could be huge in the divisional title race with the 49ers potentially able to gain some separation while the Seahawks could tie things up at 4-1.
49ers vs. Seahawks betting picks and predictions
San Francisco 49ers ML (+146)
While Seattle has a perfect 2-0 record at home as well as the memory of their 41-6 cruise in the Divisional Round of last season's playoffs, San Francisco are not likely to be overawed on this trip, having won each of the last four regular-season games at Lumen Field and six of the last eight overall.
The Niners have been excellent to start the season, building momentum behind an efficient offense, led by Brock Purdy, whose early-season form has planted him firmly in the MVP conversation.
Purdy has thrown for 1,007 yards and 11 touchdowns, while completing almost 70 per cent of his passes and throwing just one interception. With Christian McCaffrey an obvious weapon on the ground too, there are different ways that the Niners can win, even with a banged up receiving corps.
Their defense has been excellent too, the Cardinals' fourth-quarter blitz aside, and in a game that should be tight and fiercely contested, Purdy has shown that he can pick his moment to deliver the right pass.
Given the start to the season and their record in this rivalry match-up, the Niners look too big to ignore.
Sam Darnold Over 1.5 Passing Touchdowns (-115)
Sam Darnold's season did not get off to the best of starts with the injury he suffered on the opening drive of the season opener against the Patriots and, while he is not putting up the same kind of numbers as his opposite number Purdy, he has been having no trouble finding the end zone.
Darnold threw for 379 yards and four touchdowns on 31 completions from 45 attempts against Washington, despite being picked off twice and, even though his numbers were less impressive against the Chargers, he still found the end zone twice.
In a game in which he may well have to go to the air, he has one of the league's very best in Jaxon Smith-Njigba - six touchdowns already - to aim for and another two touchdowns look within his reach.
George Kittle Anytime Touchdown Scorer (+185)
In a surprise to no-one, George Kittle has become a reliable outlet for Purdy over the last three weeks, having barely figured in the season opener against the Rams when he caught just two passes for 12 yards.
Since returning to the US, Kittle has been key to San Francisco's momentum, becoming the leading receiver for his team with a total of 244 yards after tallies of 80 against the Dolphins, 82 against the Cardinals and 70 against the Broncos.
More importantly, he has scored four touchdowns in that stretch with at least one in each game, and can be a threat from beyond the red zone too, with receptions of 40 and 56 yards included and 139 yards made after the catch.
At the odds, the 33-year-old is well worth considering to extend his team-leading receiving TD tally on Sunday.
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49ers vs. Seahawks odds
SF 49ers | +146 |
SEA Seahawks | -172 |
Spread | SEA Seahawks -3.0 |
Total Points | O/U 46.5 |
49ers vs. Seahawks player props
Anytime touchdown
Christian McCaffrey (49ers) | -135 |
Emanuel Wilson (Seahawks) | -120 |
Jaxon Smith-Njigba (Seahawks) | -120 |
George Kittle (49ers) | +185 |
Mike Evans (49ers) | +200 |
Deebo Samuel (49ers) | +240 |
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
