The Buffalo Bills can move one step closer to the AFC East title when they take on the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football from State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. With a win on Monday, the Bills (8-3) can regain a one-game lead in the division over Miami (8-4), which beat Cincinnati on Sunday. Buffalo hasn't won the AFC East since 1995, the longest drought of any of the four divisional teams.
Kickoff is set for 8:15 p.m. ET. San Francisco is a 1.5-point favorite in the latest Bills vs. 49ers odds from William Hill Sportsbook, while the Over-Under for total points scored is 47.5. Before you make any 49ers vs. Bills picks, make sure you check out the predictions from SportsLine's resident 49ers expert, Tom Fornelli.
The CBS national writer went a wallet-fattening 31-21 last season with his NFL best bets. What's more, he has demonstrated a particularly sharp eye for the 49ers. In fact, he is an amazing 14-5 on picks involving San Francisco. Anyone who has followed him is way up.
Now Fornelli has dialed in on Bills vs. 49ers and released another confident against-the-spread pick. Go to SportsLine to see it. Here are the latest NFL lines and trends for 49ers vs. Bills:
- Bills vs. 49ers spread: San Francisco -1.5
- Bills vs. 49ers Over-Under: 47.5 points
- Bills vs. 49ers money line: Buffalo +105, San Francisco -125
- BUF: Bills rank seventh in the NFL in passing offense (268.1 yards per game)
- SF: 49ers rank sixth in total defense (315.2 yards per game)
Why the Bills can cover
Buffalo is coming off one of its best rushing games this season. Last week against the Chargers, the Bills ran 30 times for 172 yards and a touchdown. Their 5.7 yards per carry average was the team's best this year, while the 172 yards were the second most.
In addition, Buffalo faces a struggling San Francisco quarterback in Nick Mullens. Filling in for the injured Jimmy Garoppolo, Mullens has thrown four interceptions and just two touchdowns combined in his last three games. In those games, he has averaged just 7.3 yards per attempt and has a passer rating of 77.3.
Why the 49ers can cover
San Francisco has a run defense to slow down Buffalo. The 49ers entered the week ranked eighth in the NFL in rushing yards allowed per carry (4.0). They also give up just 108.7 rushing yards per game, which is 10th in the league.
In addition, San Francisco is getting healthy at the right time. Cornerback Richard Sherman returned last week and led the defense in tackles (seven) and had an interception. Receiver Deebo Samuel, who missed three weeks with a hamstring injury, also came back last week and had a career-high 11 catches for 133 yards.
How to make Bills vs. 49ers picks
Fornelli has broken down this matchup from every angle. He is leaning Under the total, but he also says a critical x-factor makes one side of the spread a must-back. He's sharing what it is, and who to back, only at SportsLine.
Who wins 49ers vs. Bills on Monday Night Football? And what critical factor makes one side of the spread a must-back? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the 49ers vs. Bills spread you should jump on, all from the expert who is 14-5 on picks involving San Francisco.
