The San Francisco 49ers (6-8) visit the Miami Dolphins (6-8) in a matchup between two of the NFL‘s most disappointing teams. Our 49ers vs Dolphins prediction is for Miami to win the game.
Head-to-head, Miami leads with a record of 8-7. The teams met in Super Bowl XIX with San Francisco winning 38-16.
Offshore Odds: San Francisco is a Slight Favorite
Team | Spread | Money Line | Total |
---|---|---|---|
49ers | -1.5 (-110) | -125 | O 44.5 (-115) |
Dolphins | +1.5 (-110) | +105 | U 44.5 (-105) |
Miami’s Problems Go Beyond Tua’s Early-Season Concussion
Although it is easy to give the Dolphins a pass for their 6-8 record because they lost quarterback Tua Tagovailoa for four games due to a concussion. However, their record with Tua is 5-5. It’s not as if they have been setting the world on fire with him back under center.
They are terrible in cold weather. They’re a frontrunner that is happy to run up the score and strut when they’re winning big. But if they hit a little adversity against a team that won’t quit, they inevitably lose. Regardless of Tua’s injury, they should not be 6-8.
Will owner Stephen Ross — who has a notoriously quick trigger — give head coach Mike McDaniel a pass, especially when the “prototype” head coach is changing from a cerebral personality to the big and intense type like Dan Campbell who, incidentally, was Miami’s interim head coach in 2015?
This is the same owner who fired Brian Flores after he brought the team in over .500 in consecutive years for the first time in two decades.
McDaniel might want to do whatever he can to finish above .500.
San Francisco Needs a Reboot
Like Miami, injuries are a reason why San Francisco has struggled, but not the reason. Silly speculation about head coach Kyle Shanahan’s job status has been making the rounds. It’s difficult to believe that GM John Lynch will make a change unless he’s ordered to by ownership.
Still, there are issues with the 49ers. In their previous game, a 12-6 loss to Los Angeles that all but ended their playoff hopes, linebacker De’Vondre Campbell refused to enter the game when he was asked to do so. Then he left. Just walked out. He was suspended for the rest of the regular season, but he’s done in San Francisco.
The 49ers are without star running back Christian McCaffrey. Deebo Samuel had complained about a lack of targets before the Rams game. He was frequently targeted by quarterback Brock Purdy and proceeded to drop several passes including one that would have gone for a touchdown and might have been a game-changer.
49ers vs Dolphins Prediction: Miami Wins a War of Attrition
Both organizations are a bit of a mess. The only question is whether one or both will chalk it up as an injury-related mess or a culture/complacency-related mess.
Regardless, Miami is due to get some good luck in a game they’re generally expected to lose.
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