The San Francisco 49ers (4-2) host the Atlanta Falcons (3-2) for Sunday Night Football on October 19. Kickoff from Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., is set for 8:20 p.m. ET. The game will broadcast on NBC.
The 49ers are 1-point favorites over the Falcons on the spread (49ers -1), with the over/under set at 47.5 total points. The 49ers are -120 favorites on the moneyline and the Falcons are +100 underdogs.
Below, you can find our Falcons vs 49ers picks for Sunday Night Football, which include predictions for the spread, game total and three player props.
Falcons vs 49ers Picks & Predictions
| Game | Time (ET) | Best Bet |
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  | 8:20 p.m. | |
| 8:20 p.m. | |
| 8:20 p.m. | |
| 8:20 p.m. | |
| 8:20 p.m. | |
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our NFL Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | ||
Sunday Night Football Odds
- Falcons vs 49ers Moneyline: Falcons +100, 49ers -120
- Falcons vs 49ers Spread: Falcons +1 (-105), 49ers -1 (-115)
- Falcons vs 49ers Total: 47 (-106o / -114u)
Falcons vs 49ers odds via bet365
Falcons vs 49ers Spread Prediction
This is undoubtedly one of the biggest prove-it spots of the NFL season thus far.
The Falcons need to prove they can win on the road, traveling across the country after pulling off the upset over the Bills on Monday Night Football.
Atlanta’s defense has been one of the more surprising units this season — it’s impossible not to be impressed by its performance in limiting the Bills to just 5.4 yards per play.
However, I still believe defending the Kyle Shanahan system will prove to be more difficult.
Over the last four weeks, the 49ers' passing attack leads the league in explosive play rate and they will get George Kittle back from injury. Kittle made it a point to say he waited until he was fully healed before returning to the lineup, so I am expecting him to make a difference in this game.
Michael Penix Jr. has enjoyed the benefit of dropping back at the fourth-lowest rate in the league this year, but he is going to need to do more tonight.
San Francisco’s defense has stuffed runs at or behind at the line of scrimmage at the fifth-highest rate league-wide. While the loss of Fred Warner to injury is a concern moving forward, the defense held up against the run last week in Tampa Bay.
In Penix’s two road starts this season he has averaged 5.1 and 4.7 yards per attempt against the Vikings and Panthers, respectively. I’ll take my chances with the 49ers at home to make life difficult for him once again.
Pick: 49ers -1; bet to -2.5
Falcons vs 49ers Over/Under Pick
By Billy Ward
The Falcons came into their Week 6 matchup against the Bills with the league’s No. 1 defense by DVOA. The common thought that week was that a matchup with the Bills would change that, and Atlanta’s defense couldn’t really be that good — just lucky based on some favorable matchups.
Then the Falcons held the Bills to a season-low 14 points. Turns out, Atlanta’s defense really is that good, and now it gets a considerably easier matchup against a banged-up 49ers offense.
San Francisco’s list of offensive inactives include starting QB Brock Purdy and wide receivers Ricky Pearsall and Brandon Aiyuk. The 49ers have relied heavily on Christian McCaffrey to move the ball, with moderate success, but the star back is averaging just 3.1 yards per carry as the 49ers attempt to methodically march the field. They’ve played at the second-slowest pace in the NFL this season.
On the other side, the 49ers defense is solidly average while the Falcons offense ranks 27th in points per game and 17th in offensive DVOA. They’ve had their moments and young QB Michael Penix Jr. is still improving in what’s effectively his red-shirt rookie season, but this is a team that was shutout by the Panthers.
Some books have held firm on the total at 47.5 while others have started to inch down, and I’m happy to get the under at that line.
Pick: Under 47.5 (-120)
Falcons vs 49ers Player Props: Kendrick Bourne
I understand that George Kittle is returning tonight, but we can't discount what Kendrick Bourne has done as the recent leader of this 49ers pass attack.
Jauan Jennings is playing hurt and Bourne has exactly 142 receiving yards in back-to-back games with 20 total targets. Kittle will steal some of those targets and the matchup against a tough Falcons defense isn't great, but this number is too low for Bourne's current role.
Pick: Kendrick Bourne Over 44.5 Receiving Yards (-114)
Falcons vs 49ers Player Props: Mac Jones
By Derek Carty
THE BLITZ is forecasting 13.76 rushing yards for Mac Jones.
The oddsmakers' implied projection is 9.06 rushing yards; I believe there is some value on Jones in yet another spot start for the injured Brock Purdy.
If you take the over, you’d be projected to win 69% of the time, resulting in a 33% ROI with expected value of $35.98 (based on a $100 wager). This play is good down to at least -151.
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Pick: Mac Jones Over 5.5 Rushing Yards (-108 to -151)
Falcons vs 49ers Player Props: Demarcus Robinson
By Derek Carty
There is a value opportunity on Demarcus Robinson's receiving yards prop tonight.
THE BLITZ is projecting him to record 16.30 receiving yards, while sportsbooks imply 27.42.
The model believes there is a 71% chance he records fewer than 20 receiving yards, so there is some value on the under at -110.
This play is good down to at least -164.
Pick: Demarcus Robinson Under 19.5 Receiving Yards (-110 to -164)
