NFL Free Picks Preview – Niners Battle Vikings for Legitimacy

The Niners have been gutting out wins lately behind the near-heroic styling’s of Shaun Hill. I know it’s a weird sentence to read regarding Shaun Hill. Trust me, it’s even stranger to write. But Hill’s vantage point has been simple, especially with Frank Gore thundering in to prominence with a 207-yard performance last week against the Seahawks. Hill is managing a strong game, but visiting the Favre-led Vikings will be a tough measure for any quarterback.

San Francisco has gone 5-1-1 ATS in their last 7 games and 4-2 ATS on the road. They’ve been a great bet this year as well, and have won games against Arizona and Seattle by decisive measures. The problem here is that Brett Favre is throwing in a dome, and Adrian Peterson is the leading rusher of the league.

The Vikings are 4th in the league in offense, averaging 30.5 points per game behind Favre’s useful game managing and Adrian Peterson’s all-day explosions. The emergence of Percy Harvin as a do-it-all utility player has also fortified the Vikings’ offense, and given them a third dimension. Don’t forget that Bernard Berrian, who had 6 targets, 6 catches and 46 yards against Cleveland is still a deep threat.

San Francisco 49ers(2-0) vs. Minnesota Vikings (2-0)

Sunday, September 27th — Metrodome, Minneapolis — 1:00pm EST

NFL Betting Line: Minnesota -6.5 (39)

San Fran has proven it’s the cream of the crop in the NFC West, but that’s a morbid division. They have a lot o prove if they’re going to contend with the other beasts of the NFC. Minnesota is within those ranks, and is on the verge of proving that they’re a reliable bet as well. While just 1-4 ATS at home, they’re undefeated against the betting line this year. Weighing Favre against Jackson is like weighing a Shelby Mustang against its 2009 counterpart. The new one is flashier, newer, but the old one just gets it done.

Top that off with a west coast team playing an early game in the east coast, and you have a veritable “crashing back to earth” party for the Niners. That’s not exactly a celebration they want to be invited to. The Niners are a good team, but they have to prove that they are great. They’re not their yet, and the Vikings are.

Furious Free Pick: Minnesota -6.5 (UNDER)