In what promises to be an exciting conclusion to the 2024 NFL preseason, the San Francisco 49ers are gearing up to take on the Las Vegas Raiders on Friday, August 23 at 10 p.m. ET at Allegiant Stadium. With the defending NFC champions coming in as five-point favorites and a total of 35.5, the stage is set for an intriguing matchup that has fans and bettors alike on the edge of their seats.
The Raiders made headlines when they announced that veteran Gardner Minshew would be their starting quarterback for the regular season opener against the Chargers. As a result, both Minshew and backup Aidan O’Connell are expected to sit out the preseason finale, allowing newly signed Nathan Peterman to step into the spotlight.
On the other side of the field, 49ers signal-caller Joshua Dobbs has been garnering attention leading up to the game. San Francisco initially opened as 3.5-point favorites but has since seen their odds climb as high as 7.5 points in some markets.
O’Connell has put on a decent showing in the preseason, completing 21-of-29 pass attempts for 176 yards, including one touchdown and one interception. Unfortunately, that interception turned into a pick-six in the Raiders’ recent loss to the Cowboys, preventing them from covering the spread.
In contrast, Dobbs is still fighting for the backup quarterback position in San Francisco. In their last preseason game against the Saints, Dobbs displayed his athleticism by going 12-of-21 passing for 133 yards and leading the team with 25 rushing yards and a touchdown on three carries.
Dobbs, who started last season as Kyler Murray’s backup in Arizona before being traded to Minnesota, has had his fair share of ups and downs in the league. Despite his journeyman status, Dobbs could potentially provide the Niners with the edge they need in this matchup.
Whether it’s Dobbs or his competitor, Brandon Allen, leading the charge for San Francisco, it’s clear that the 49ers have the upper hand. While it’s always a challenge to handicap backup defenses, it’s even more daunting to back Peterman and the Raiders, particularly with concerns surrounding their secondary.
It’s worth noting that NFL preseason unders have been off to a hot start, boasting a 26-7 record (78.8%) over the first two weeks. This trend marks the best start for preseason unders in the last 20 years and could be a factor to consider when placing your bets on this preseason showdown between the 49ers and the Raiders.
