NFC Divisional Playoff Prediction: Saints vs. 49ers Free Pick

Now that all but a couple of pretenders have excited stage right, we head into the NFL Divisional Playoff Weekend with all the big boys onboard. Up first it’s the National Football Conference featuring the New Orleans Saints vs. San Francisco 49ers Battle by the Bay.

This NFC playoff football wagering action has its kickoff scheduled for 4:30 PM ET on Saturday, January 14, 2012, from Candlestick Park, in San Francisco, CA.

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NFC Playoffs: Saints @ 49ers Game Day Preview

San Francisco (13-3 Home: 7-1) is back in the NFL playoffs for the first time in nine seasons. The Niners last postseason appearance was in 2002 when they beat the  Giants 39-38 during Wild Card Weekend before falling 31-6 to the Tamps Bay Buccaneers who went on to win Super Bowl XXXVII. In the eight seasons that followed, the 49ers went 46-82 before their 13-3 run this season.

New Orleans (13-3 Road 5-3) dispatched the Detroit Lions 45-28 last weekend during Wild Card action. After a bit of a wobbly start, the Saints trailed 14-10 at halftime, New Orleans blew out the Lions with 35 second half points as their defense stiffened to allow Detroit just 14 points over the final two quarters. The Saints have never won a road playoff game as they are 0-4 as the visitors.

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Divisional Saturday Betting Lines: San Francisco vs. New Orleans

TopBet.com is the odds provider for our New Orleans vs. San Francisco Free Pick betting lines. The Sportsbook at the TopBet wagering website is a rising star in the online sports betting industry. Great wagering odds, for this classic strength against strength match-up, are available at TopBet.

Once familiar foes, when they both played out of the NFC West, the 49ers and Saints have met just six times since NFL realignment in 2002. New Orleans owns a 6-0 straight up record over that span and they are 4-2 against the spread. Their last meeting was in Week 2 of the 2010 season when the Saints scored a 25-22 road win. The Niners are a much improved team this time around.

New Orleans is an offensive juggernaut while the 49ers hang their hat on a stout defense. During the NFL 2011 regular season the Saints ranked first in total yards (467.1 PPG), first in passing yards (334.2 YPG), and second in scoring as they racked up 34.2 points per game.

San Francisco led the NFL in run defense at 77.2 YPG and three touchdowns. Two of the TD’s came in Week 17 against the Rams, the other was in Week 16 against the Seahawks. San Francisco was a stellar second in points allowed (14.3 PPG) and fourth in total yards at 308.2 YPG.

Weather can always be dicey in the Bay area during January, or anytime for that matter, but the Saints get a huge break this weekend. There’s a beautiful sunny day on tap with the temperature forecasted at a balmy high of 64°F and winds that will be less than 5 mph.

That is a monster advantage for QB Drew Brees and his talented offense who, during stretches this season, struggled on the road. TE Jimmy Graham and RB Darren Sproles will key the Saints attack.

NFC Divisional Playoffs: Recent Betting Trends

Dating back to the 2007 Divisional Playoffs, no team has been an underdog at home as the Niners are for this one. That’s in either conference as the last 20 home teams have been posted as the favorite during the Divisonal playoff round. NFC visitors are 4-6 over the last five years, while the Game Total has gone OVER in six of ten games including three straight.

NFC teams have won the past ten contests by a combined 335-171 final count – good for a 16.4 average margin of victory. The last seven games have been decided by 11 or more points, including road teams winning by 12, 20, and the Packers 27 point margin of road victory last season.

Bottom Line: 49ers vs. Saints Playoff Free Pick Prediction

We have not been big fans of the 49ers and their anemic offense all season long. We also love the fact that we are getting a break on the weather as it will be bombs away all day for the Saints and their ultra-prolific passing offense. New Orleans comes into this contest with an underrated, yet opportunistic, bend don’t break defense. They also have tons of playoff experience. Good and bad.

San Fran will need to score at least 24 points to have any chance of winning here. They’ve done that twice in their last seven games – both times against the lowly Rams. New Orleans will do their part to keep our preseason Packers vs. Saints NFC Championship match-up prediction alive and well.

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Stay tuned for our Broncos vs. Patriots Free Pick on Friday