Despite beginning the season 1-0, there’s a bit of gloom surrounding the San Francisco organization. Brock Purdy is expected to miss 2–5 weeks with turf toe, George Kittle just landed on IR with a hamstring injury, and the team cut kicker Jake Moody and signed Eddie Pineiro.
Can the 49ers overcome those setbacks against Spencer Rattler and the Saints? Let’s dive into my picks and predictions for the New Orleans Saints vs. San Francisco 49ers matchup.
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New Orleans Saints vs San Francisco 49ers NFL Betting Insights
Can Mac Jones guide the 49ers to a 2-0 start?
Mac is Back: With Brock Purdy sidelined, Mac Jones steps in – now on his third team in just five seasons. While he never established himself as a long-term starter, Jones is far from the worst backup option, especially under the guidance of Kyle Shanahan.
If there’s any coach who can elevate average quarterback play into something special, it’s Shanahan. In 10 games with Jacksonville last season, Jones threw for over 1,600 yards, completing 65.3% of his passes with eight touchdowns and eight interceptions.
Surprising Saints: New Orleans was a favorite to be the worst team in the NFL, but they showed some fight in Week 1.
The Saints fell 20-13 to the Cardinals, failing to cover as 6.5-point underdogs, yet they had a chance to force overtime on their final drive before coming up short.
Spencer Rattler went 27-of-46 for 214 yards, while the defense held Kyler Murray to just 163 passing yards on 21 completions. Arizona did find success on the ground with 146 rushing yards, but overall, New Orleans looked sharper than expected.
Facing a banged-up 49ers offense, the Saints have a path to stay competitive – and perhaps even steal a win – by leaning on their defense.
Best Bet: From a side perspective – this game has red flags plastered all over it. With San Francisco banged up, this spread sits at a flat -3 in their favor. Instead, of looking there – I’m targeting the prop market.
Let’s take a look at a steady player we can put stock into: Alvin Kamara.
His rushing attempts prop is set at 12.5 with -105 juice to the over. He logged just 11 carries last week, but this Sunday the veteran tailback should be a focal point of the Saints’ game plan.
Last season, San Francisco ranked 29th in rush EPA per Play and 25th in rush success rate allowed. After just one game this year, they sit 14th and 29th in those respective categories.
The 49ers ranked 29th in rush EPA per play and 25th in rush success rate allowed last season. Through one game in 2025, they sit 14th and 29th in those categories. With injuries leaving San Francisco vulnerable, this matchup sets up for New Orleans to lean on its star back, control the tempo, and keep things competitive – if not play from ahead.
Play: Alvin Kamara Over 12.5 Rush Attempts (-105)
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