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The San Francisco 49ers will take their NFC West-leading 7-2-1 record into the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans to face the surging New Orleans Saints on Sunday in the midst of a quarterback controversy.
No matter who is under center for their opponents, New Orleans (5-5) will face perhaps their most difficult test of the season with the 49ers, who have shown that they are one of the most elite and complete teams in the NFC after a 32-7 rout of the Chicago Bears on a national stage on Monday night at The Stick.
OddsShark has the opening spread with the 49ers as 2.5-point favorites on the road. They have a significant edge with the NFL's No.1 ranked run defense and are allowing just 13.4 points per game. The Saints have returned to their prolific scoring ways and have put up 28.7 points per contest in 2012.
The Saints figure to have a difficult time of stopping the momentum of the 49ers on the ground as San Francisco has averaged 165.3 rushing yards per game while New Orleans has given up 157.8. The Saints are 5-1 against the spread over their last six games. San Francisco will rely on clock and ball control to come away with the win.