NFL Week 10 Picks: San Francisco 49ers vs. New Orleans Saints

San Francisco 49ers vs. New Orleans Saints
Sunday, 11/9/14, 1:00 PM EST
Opening Point Spread: New Orleans -3.5
Current Betting Line: New Orleans -5.5
Opening Total: 49
Current Total: 49
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

san francisco 49ers football frank gore — San Francisco 49ers RB Frank Gore needs to get back on track Sunday

San Francisco has dropped back-to-back games, including a 13-10 defeat to the St. Louis rams as 10.5-point home favorites last week, but it still won the statistical battle for the fourth time in five affairs. The 49ers are averaging just 286.5 yards per game since Week 7, which can’t be ignored when making your Week 10 NFL betting picks, as that figure ranks 26th in the league over that span. San Francisco is 2-4 SU and 3-3 ATS as underdogs of 3.5 to 9.5 points the last two-plus seasons, with the OVER going 4-2 in that situation.

The 49ers need to get back to running the football, which is important to consider when looking over the NFL betting lines, as top running back Frank Gore hasn’t gone over the 50-yard mark in his last three games. San Francisco’s lack of balance offensively has led to dual-threat quarterback Colin Kaepernick to be sacked 26 times. His main weapon in the middle of the field has failed to produce in recent games, with tight end Vernon Davis averaging just 2.7 receptions for 26.8 yards in his last six games played.

New Orleans has won and covered the number in two consecutive games for the first time in 2014, while it has captured its last 20 games at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome with head coach Sean Payton on the sideline. Saints quarterback Drew Brees has put together a sparkling 119.8 passer rating in winning his last 11 home starts dating back to the start of last season. New Orleans is 10-6 SU and 8-8 ATS as favorites of 3.5 to 9.5 points since 2012, with the UNDER going 9-7 in those 16 opportunities.

The Saints will also look to establish the running game with Mark Ingram, as he’s become the franchise’s first player to put together back-to-back 100-yard rushing games since 2006. New Orleans earned a 23-20 victory over San Francisco as 3.5-point home favorites in last year’s meeting—winning the statistical battle by a 387-196 margin.