Sunday Night Football odds, spread, line: 49ers vs. Broncos prediction, NFL picks, bets from expert who’s 17-6

Week 3 of the 2022 NFL schedule continues with a primetime Sunday Night Football matchup between cross-conference foes. Russell Wilson and the Denver Broncos will host Jimmy Garoppolo and the San Francisco 49ers at Empower Field at Mile High. Both teams are 1-1 this season. Each started with a Week 1 loss and followed it with a win, with the Broncos defeating the Houston Texans and the 49ers defeating the Seattle Seahawks.

Kickoff is at 8:20 p.m. ET in Denver. Caesars Sportsbook lists San Francisco as a 1.5-point favorite, while the over/under, or total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, is 44.5 in the latest 49ers vs. Broncos odds. Before you make any Broncos vs. 49ers picks and NFL predictions, you need to see what SportsLine expert Tom Fornelli has to say.

The CBS national writer went a profitable 29-16-1 in his last 46 NFL best bets. What’s more, he has demonstrated a particularly sharp eye for the 49ers. In fact, Fornelli has gone a stunning 17-6 on NFL picks involving San Francisco. Anyone who has followed him is way up.

Now, Fornelli has set his sights on 49ers vs. Broncos and just locked in his picks and Week 3 NFL predictions. You can head to SportsLine to see his picks. Now, here are several NFL odds and betting lines for 49ers vs. Broncos:

• 49ers vs. Broncos spread: 49ers -1.5 
• 49ers vs. Broncos over/under: 44.5 points 
• 49ers vs. Broncos money line: 49ers -120, Broncos +100
• SF: 49ers are 13-9 against the spread in their last 22 games 
• DEN: Broncos are 8-11 against the spread in their last 19 games 
• 49ers vs. Broncos picks: See picks here

Why the 49ers can cover

The 49ers lead the NFL in total defense, allowing only 210 total yards per game. San Francisco also sits atop the league in pass defense with 142.5 yards allowed per game, and is No. 1 in first downs allowed with 29. The 49ers are giving up a league-leading 2.6 yards per carry and only 67.5 rushing yards per game, No. 2 in the NFL. San Francisco is also in the top quartile of the league in third down conversion rate allowed (33.3%) and has matched the Buffalo Bills with six consecutive games allowing fewer than 300 total yards. 

San Francisco has talent all over the defense, but the 49ers are keyed by Nick Bosa. The two-time Pro Bowl defensive end has 18.5 sacks over the last 19 games, including three sacks in 2022. He has the second-most quarterback hits (39) in the NFL since the start of the 2021 season and led the league with 21 tackles for loss last season. Denver is averaging only 16 points per game this season, and the Broncos have not generated a red zone touchdown in 2022.

Why the Broncos can cover

The Broncos are No. 3 in the NFL in averaging 41.2 yards per drive and rank in the top eight of the league in total offense, averaging 391.5 yards per game. The Broncos, keyed by Russell Wilson, are averaging 6.8 net yards per pass attempt through the air. 

Wilson is a nine-time Pro Bowl quarterback with more than 3,000 passing yards in every season of his career. He is also 17-4 all-time against the 49ers dating back to his tenure with the Seahawks and has 37 career passing touchdowns against San Francisco, second-most of any quarterback all-time. Javonte Williams and Melvin Gordon have combined for 223 yards on 44 carries this season, and Denver also has a top-flight pass-catcher in Pro Bowl wide receiver Courtland Sutton. He is in the top 10 with 194 yards on 11 catches.

How to make 49ers vs. Broncos picks

Fornelli has analyzed this matchup and while we can tell you he’s leaning Under on the point total, he has discovered a critical X-factor that has him jumping all over one side of the spread. He’s only sharing what it is, and which side to back, at SportsLine.

Who wins Broncos vs. 49ers on Sunday Night Football? And which critical X-factor makes one side of the spread a must-back? Visit SportsLine now to see Fornelli’s Broncos vs. 49ers picks, all from the expert who is 17-6 on Niners picks, and find out.