Coming off an 8-8 2009 season with a +49 point differential, the 2010 regular season win total on the 49ers has been set at 8.5.  Most early action seems to be on the 49ers over with odds of -140 listed on Bodog.  Are these early bettors on to something or off the mark?  Are the 49ers an inexperienced raw team with an unproven quarterback who will struggle or a talented hard-nosed squad ready to break out?  The Bookbeater loves the over.  

Let’s start with the off-season to see where we’re headed.  The 49ers addressed their most glaring need by drafting OT Anthony Davis and OG Mike Iupati in the 1st round.  Both are slated to start for an offensive line that should be much better.  As evidenced by the 2006 Jets, drafting 2 quality offensive linemen can yield immediate dividends.  Coming off a 4-12 2005 season the Jets selected D’Brickashaw Ferguson and Nick Mangold in the 1^st Round and won 10 games in 2006.  The 49ers followed that with the selection of hard hitting S Taylor Mays out of USC and First round talent OLB Navorro Bowman of Penn State to boost an already stingy defense.   The 49ers were relatively quiet in off-season signings and trades but they did trade for Tedd Ginn.  While Ginn may never justify his high draft pick by the Dolphins he can be a big play threat and can win a game on special teams virtually by himself.  Ginn did just that when he scored 2 special teams TDs in 1 game versus the Jets last year.

In 2009 the 49ers were 27^th in offense and 15^th in defense yet they were +49 in point differential.  This is an indication that they got better in the red zone where it matters most.  But where will this team go in 2010?  The odds of the offense being ranked higher than their 2009 ranking of 27^th should be at least 1-10.  This is an offense that has finally established a starting QB in Alex Smith who played the best football of his career over the last 11 games.  Previously, Smith had 19 TDs and 31 INTs in his career but he had 18 TDs and only 12 INTs in 2009.  Add a rebuilt offensive line, a full season with WR Michael Crabtree (he missed 5 games in 2009 with holdout), big play ability in Tedd Ginn and explosive parts in TE Vernon Davis and RB Frank Gore.  Not saying it will be the Bill Walsh days but this offense is ready to bust lose.  The defense, anchored by LB Patrick Willis, LB Takeo Spikes and CB Nate Clement should continue to improve under Mike Singletary’s tutelage.

It’s said an NFL team can only be as good as the schedule allows it to be and this schedule allows a lot.  In a division with ARI who lost Warner, Boldin, Dansby and Rolle, Sea who is littered with question marks and STL who might lead the NFL in losses the 49ers have 6 games against weak teams.  Add KC, OAK, TB, PHI (without McNabb,) CAR and DEN with QB debates and you have a recipe for success.  A breakdown of the Schedule looks like @SEA W, NO L, @KC W, @ATL L, PHI W, OAK W, @CAR L, DEN W, STL W, TB W, @ARI L, @GB L, SEA W, @SD L, @STL W, ARI W. 

2010 predicted record: 10-6.   $$$ out of $$$$ rating.

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