San Francisco 49ers vs Seattle Seahawks | Preview, Predictions, Odds & Free Pick | Sportsbookbuzz.com

Sunday – September 12, 2010

vs.

San Francisco at Seattle 4:15 PM FOX

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Pete Carroll will make his first NFL coaching appearance in 11 years as he faces the challenging task of reviving a Seattle Seahawks team that has posted a meager 9-23 over the past two seasons after making the playoffs the previous five including a Super Bowl appearance.

Standing 160 feet away patrolling the San Francisco sideline will be 49ers head coach Mike Singletary who appears to have his team poised to make its first playoff appearance in eight seasons after finishing the preseason as the only team to go undefeated.

But can Carroll, who before going to New England was from was fired from the Jets after a 6-10 season in 1994, do any better this time around? He certainly has his work cut out for him.

With an aging quarterback, injuries and the loss of some key skilled position weapons it won’t be an easy tack.

QB Matt Hasselbeck is coming off his sixth 3,000-yard passing season, but threw a career-high 17 interceptions in 2009. Hasselbeck, however, has thrown 23 touchdowns while going 9-4 versus San Francisco as a starter.

Also gone is WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh, who was released before signing with Baltimore this week, along with retired pass rusher Patrick Kerney, and sack leader Lawrence Jackson who was traded to Detroit.

Compounding problems, linebacker Leroy Hill will miss the opener to serve a one-game league suspension while starting left tackle Russell Okung is out with an ankle injury.

All of those setbacks should work in the favor of the Niners who will seek to take advantage of an early divisional win on their way to its eighth consecutive winning season after going 8-8 last season.

Sunday’s offensive charge will be led by six-year running back Frank Gore who has rushed for 1,000 yards in each of the last four seasons, scoring a career-high 13 TDs in 2009, while registering his only two 200-yard career games against the Seahawks.

For now it looks like QB Alex Smith will hang on to his starting role behind center as he attempts to best a career-high 18 touchdowns last season but also was intercepted 12 times.

His targets will be Pro Bowl selection TE Vernon Davis and rookie WR Michael Crabtree who should improve in his first full season in the league, after snatching 48 passes for 625 yards and two TDs in 11 games in 2009.

Standout linebacker Patrick Willis will lead a Niners’ D that held opponents to just 97.0 rushing yards per game — sixth best in the NFL—and should be able to contain RB Justin Forsett who will start for Seattle in Week 1.

San Francisco has a good shot at grabbing an early win if they can break out their current road slump of 2-6 away from home last year, splitting its last four trips to the Emerald City.

The odds makers have the 49ers as a -3 point favorite with an over/under of 37.

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