NFL Betting: Flying Seahawks look grounded without home comforts

Will Frank Gore score a touchdown this evening?

Romilly Evans previews Thursday night's big clash where he expects the Niners to run out comfortable winners

Saying that the only thing unpredictable about this NFL season is its unpredictability is about as original as a depressed comedian talking about the tears of clown. That said, after more surprise results and turnarounds last week, the trend persists and many punters will be finding nothing funny about it.

Just take Thursday night's upcoming game, the Seattle Seahawks at the San Francisco 49ers, as an eloquent case in point for fickle form lines. Had the two of them met last week, the 49ers would've looked a proverbial lock. Yet, having decimated the Jets and Bills in the previous fortnight by a combined 79-3, the Niners were then crushed at Candlestick by the visiting New York Giants. They didn't even manage to work the scoreboard for the final 47 minutes, crumbling to a humiliating 26-3 loss.

The Seahawks, on the other hand, defied long odds in a 13-point, fourth-quarter comeback, vanquishing the New England Patriots 24-23. They even managed to keep Tom Brady's storied offense quiet to register their second successive win and the second over legitimate Super Bowl contenders (although their victory against Green Bay needed a large helping hand from some farcical officiating).

In summary, then, while both stand side-by-side at 4-2 in the NFC West (perhaps the league's most competitive division) Seattle are riding the proverbial wave, whereas San Francisco are in the doldrums. Fortunately for Niners fans, coach Jim Harbaugh is the king of the bounceback. In fact, in an admittedly brief history, they have yet to lose two consecutive games under him.

Furthermore, San Francisco swept their seasonal head-to-head with Seattle last year, while quarter-back Alex Smith also seems to have the measure of his divisional rivals, plotting his fourth successive victory. Other auspicious indicators for this match-up include Niners running back, Frank Gore, whose franchise-leading marks for rushing (212 and 207 yards) have both been registered against the Hawks; and their defensive end Justin Smith who also makes sacks aplenty when on home turf.

Seattle, however, are a little light on warm and fuzzy memories when their opponents sport the red and gold. Still, they can take heart from the present-day improvement of their QB, Russell Wilson. The rookie has now won four of his past five starts, overcoming fears about his experience and height to topple some of the game's best in his first year (Tom Brady, Tony Romo and Aaron Rodgers). Granted, Russell has been aided and abetted by the most miserly D around, but his progressive maturity is undeniable. He inspired their emotional late rally against the Pats, instigated by an 83-yard drive with a TD connection to Braylon Edwards, before maintaining his composure once more in a near two-minute drill.

Nevertheless, though Russell is both belying his 5'11" stature and setting new standards in over-achievement for a second-thought draft (picked 75th overall), all the key criteria converge on San Francisco. No matter how you cut the deck - and especially at home. A paltry touchdown head-start for the Seahawks looks easily surmountable, while the lazy perception that both sides are simply defensive walls makes playing the Overs at 37 also of interest.

Recommended Bets

Back San Francisco (-7 points) on the Match Point Spread @ 1.9210/11 or better
Back San Francisco (-4.5 points) on the First-Half Point Spread @ 1.9310/11 or better
Back Over 37.5 Total Points @ 2.01/1 or better
Back F Gore to be First / Anytime Touchdown Scorer @ 5.59/2 or better