Line drop on SF game. Anyone know why?

[GM]

Olympic in the last few hours has dropped SF from -2?-115 to -2-105. That's almost a full point drop when you factor in the money. Anyone know why, SF injury or something? Hoping to find out quickly because I think SF is pretty attractive at this price unless there's something I am unaware of.

Thanks in advance.

 

[vanbasten]

gm,

don't see any new injuries. i think it's just the way the money's going.

sf has won 3 straight and now go on the road out of division against a charger team that is coming home off a loss. on paper sf is the play imo. they just held the highest scoring offense (kc) to 13 points. but they are in the brutal stretch of their schedule ( 5 games particularly, beating oakland and kc, they have sd this week, and then have philly(MNF)with a division game against seattle after that). this could be the hiccup in that stretch with a look ahead to the home monday nighter against philly next week. that's the only reason i can come up with that the money's on sd.

for me, it's a pass with a lean to the over.

good luck.

 

[kbyoda]

Vanbasten,

Agree w/ yah and posted earlier that I feel it might be a look ahead game for SF! I like SD all the way...will probably just play the ML, but still think public $$ will roll on SF and we will get the 3!!... Let's keep the fingers crossed

 

[GM]

Thanks for your input guys, good points. This ~could~ be an overlook situation as you mentioned. Well, I took SF anyways (before seeing a response had been posted here). I see two teams going in different directions. SF getting progressively better, while problems, particularly defensive problems, are starting to become apparent with the Chargers. Also maybe the chance that last year's 2nd-half collapse is playing with the minds of the Chargers ("Are we going to do THAT again??" thinking). Not my strongest play of the week but I think there is good value here.

 

[4bubba]

Nov 16

San Diego is having problems in their defensive backfield. CB Molden ans McNeil have not played as they should. McNeil went to the Pro Bowl last year but has been not making the plays. They both seem to be a couple of steps behind. WR Owens should have a great day against them.
Rookie CB Jammer is still learning but making rookie mistakes.
SS Harrison is being watched every play for unreasonable hits and was already suspended once.
FS Beckett has been a non-factor.

The Chargers put excellent pressure on the passer earlier in the season, but now QBs have all day. QB Bulger from the Rams sat in the pocket the whole game and was never hurried. Lately every time the Chargers blitz, it is picked up and they are beaten.

Add these things with a young offensive line and a young QB and the Chargers will have a tough time beating anyone. They will play tougher than last year and it will keep them in games.

 

[4bubba]

Nov 17

The 49ers report to a man that they need to beat the Chargers and not look past them to next weeks game.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted on Sun, Nov. 17, 2002

49ers looking for more than one San Diego trip
Home of the Chargers also is the site of this season's Super Bowl
By Cam Inman
CONTRA COSTA TIMES

SAN DIEGO - NFL schedule makers are responsible for sending the 49ers to Qualcomm Stadium today to face the San Diego Chargers.

It'll be up to the 49ers if they make a return trip Jan. 26 for Super Bowl XXXVII.

"In many ways, I don't think it's out of the question to think that we're one of the teams that can compete to be there," 49ers quarterback Jeff Garcia said last week. "Obviously we'd love to be there again. It's just a situation we've got to take it one week at a time."

The one game/week at a time cliche echoed throughout the 49ers locker room as players talked about the chances of making a run for the border, or to San Diego, for the Super Bowl.

Asked if he would remind his team before today's game about Qualcomm also being the Super Bowl site, coach Steve Mariucci responded: "Think that'd help? I don't know. We'll see. We can't be looking at where the (St. Louis) Rams are, or concern ourselves about anybody else.

"We control our own destiny. We've got to think about winning a tough game on the road, like we've done a couple times before this year. That's the focus. And this team has been very focused. It doesn't get distracted by anything, it seems."

Mariucci admitted that even though "98 percent of our focus is on the now," he occasionally will update his players on the playoff picture, something he said he's already done once this season.

"Certainly we'll talk about winning a Super Bowl once in a while," Mariucci said. "It's not an everyday thing. Why? Because we're focusing on what's going on now."

Defensive tackle Dana Stubblefield played coy with reporters when asked about the Super Bowl.

"I don't think a lot of guys know where it is. I thought it was Miami this year," Stubblefield said. "Outdoor stadium, right? Don't they switch it like that?"

One thing that hasn't changed about the Super Bowl is none of the teams that have participated in past ones have done so in their own stadium. That doesn't bode well for the Chargers, one of the top AFC contenders.

"I've thought about (the Super Bowl), but you don't want that stuff to distract you about what you're trying to accomplish," Stubblefield said.

The San Diego region also offers enough attributes to host the Super Bowl for a third time, landing this season's edition after San Francisco lost its host bid because it was unable to build a new stadium in time.

"It's a nice stadium," 49ers center Jeremy Newberry said of Qualcomm. "And usually there's nice weather."

Newberry admitted that he, for one, is well aware of where the Super Bowl is this season.

"The Super Bowl is in the back of everybody's mind," Newberry said. "That's our goal."

Newberry has attended Super Bowl festivities every year since the last time San Diego hosted the Super Bowl, in 1998. He still hasn't, however, attended the big game, instead making endorsement appearances and soaking up the atmosphere before the title tilt.

"I'd like to get paid this trip," Newberry said.

Garcia said the 49ers have as a good shot as anyone at earning one last paycheck.

"I'd like to think we're one of the better teams in the league right now," Garcia said. "With the way we've been playing ... We're getting full out efforts from the whole team. There's not just one side of the ball that's carrying the weight."

To keep that going, Mariucci offered his team some advice this week, and it didn't have to do with the Super Bowl or where it's being played.

"We're going to have a little bit of a break after this game, so cut it loose. Play it like there's no tomorrow," Mariucci said, referring to the extra day resulting from the 49ers' playing Monday night next week. "There's two things in your life to be thinking about right now -- your family and this game against the Chargers. That's it."