9-15-13

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Where the action is: 49ers at Seahawks action report

Sunday Night Football features a pair of NFC West rivals as the Seattle Seahawks host the San Francisco 49ers.

In the matchup last season, the Seahawks dominated San Fran covering as 2.5-point in a 42-13 Week 16 victory.

The two teams are coming into this one off of polar-opposite performances.

Colin Kaepernick and the 49er offense did what it wanted to do against the Green Bay Packers in Week 1 with the 49ers prevailing by a score of 34-28.

Meanwhile, the Seattle Seahawks barely escaped Carolina with a victory in a tough 12-7 game.

We talk to Mike Perry, an oddsmaker at SportsBook.ag, about the action on Week 2's Sunday nighter.

San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks - Open: -3, Move: -2.5, Move: -3

This line has barely moved an inch at most books though some action on the 49ers moved the line to Seattle -2.5, but the line currently rests at that -3 mark.

"Just like with the Broncos versus the Giants, this will likely be a either a small win or small loss on the spread for shop," Perry told Covers. "53 percent of the money is taking the 49ers."

The majority of shops opened the total at either 45 or 44.5 and that line, similarly, has barely nudged as Perry states 52 percent of the action is on the under 45.

The moneyline is a different story, however.

"It will be a big decision on the moneyline however," states Perry. "Eighty-eight percent of the moneyline cash is on the Niners +110."

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Sunday Night Baseball: Yankees at Red Sox
By STEVE MERRIL

The rivalry continues when the Red Sox host the Yankees on Sunday Night Baseball.

New York Yankees at Boston Red Sox (-165, 8.5)

SUPER NOVA

Ivan Nova has been solid for the Yankees, going 8-4 with a 3.17 ERA and 1.28 WHIP this season. He was limited to 79 pitches his last time out due to triceps tightness and he is listed as questionable for this start, so there is the possibility of a pitching change. Nova last saw the Red Sox on Sept. 5 when he gave up three runs and five hits in four innings of work. The Yankees’ starter has not flashed the strikeouts too much putting away only 15 hitters total in his last five starts via a strikeout. Nova has not allowed more than six hits in any of his last four starts.

MOLDING THE CLAY

Clay Buchholz has been incredible for Boston going 10-0 with a 1.61 ERA and 1.01 WHIP. His return from the disabled list went well as he gave up just three hits and a walk in five innings pitched against Tampa Bay. Buchholz last faced the Yankees back on June 2nd when he gave up just two hits and one walk in five innings of work. He opened up the year in New York back on April 3 by picking up a win while allowing one run and six hits in seven innings. Boston’s starter has allowed just 12 runs in seven home starts this season. He has walked just one batter in each of his last three outings and he has given up just two home runs all year.

INJURY REPORT

These are two of the most injured teams in the league. Jacoby Ellsbury is out with a compression fracture for Boston. They are also without bullpen arms Andrew Bailey, Andrew Miller, and Joel Hanrahan who are all done for the year.

The Yankees’ lineup is getting closer to full strength, but they are without Derek Jeter, Brett Gardner, Travis Hafner, Kevin Youkilis, Jayson Nix, and Mark Teixeira. Youkilis seems to be the only one who will return this season and he’s not even a guarantee.

TRENDS

Yankees are 10-4 in Nova’s last 14 Sunday starts
Yankees are 7-2 Over in their last 9 Sunday games

Red Sox are 35-16 in Buchholz’s last 51 home starts
Red Sox are 4-0 Under in Buchholz’s last 4 Sunday starts

HITTERS TO WATCH

Robinson Cano 12-for-29 vs. Buchholz
Alex Rodriguez 9-for-23 vs. Buchholz

Dustin Pedroia 4-for-10 vs. Nova
David Ortiz 5-for-14 vs. Nova

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Tale of the tape: San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks

Sunday Night Football will be a hotly contested matchup as the 49ers travel north to face the Seahawks. These are two of the favorites to win the Super Bowl and the atmosphere in Seattle should be electric. We break down Sunday night's NFC West grudge match with our betting tale of the tape:

Offense

The 49ers marched all over the field in Week 1 against Green Bay totaling 494 yards in the 34-28 victory. The bulk of that was through the air, however, as Frank Gore and the 49er rushing attack was largely ineffective. But quite the aerial attack it was. Colin Kaepernick and Anquan Boldin looked like they had been playing together for years as Boldin hauled in 13 catches for 208 yards and TE Vernon Davis added a pair of touchdown catches.

The Seahawks only managed 12 points against the Carolina Panthers one week ago, but looked threatening at times. Until they got into the red zone that is. Seattle finished Week 1 0-for-3 inside the 20 and the lone touchdown came on a 43 yard pass play to Jermaine Kearse. Marshawn Lynch struggled to get anything going against Carolina, save for a 14 yard scamper. He finished with 43 yards on 17 carries.

Edge: San Francisco

Defense

Aaron Rodgers gave the 49er defense all they could handle as the Packers racked up 322 passing yards and 385 yards of total offense. The defensive unit did make some plays including an interception and a fumble recovery. LB NaVorro Bowman picked up where the 2012 season left off as he collected eight tackles and a pass deflection.

Seattle gets the pleasure of facing another athletic QB after containing Cam Newton in Week 1. The stingy Seahawk defensive squad kept Newton at bay for the most part, but struggled stopping the run. DeAngelo Williams rumbled his way to 86 yards on 17 carries for 5.1 ypc. The Seahawks only managed one sack on Cam Newton and must up the pressure against Kaepernick.

Edge: Seattle

Special teams

New 49ers kicker Phil Dawson was one of the top kickers one season ago and was 2-for-3 in Week 1. He did miss a 48-yard attempt on his first try in his new 49er uniform. The 49ers are looking for some stability on field goal attempts from 40 yards and out, so it wasn't the best of starts for the veteran.

Steven Hauschka went 2-for-2 in Week 1 with a 27 yard FG and a 40 yard FG. Hauscka is pretty reliable up to 50 yards. He was 23-for-23 from 49 yards and in one season ago, but just 1-for-4 beyond the 50.

Edge: Seattle

Notable quotable

“He’s really coming into his own as a leader, a quarterback and a player. We weren’t operating on all cylinders as an offense last week, but to be able to have the kind of day he had, to lead us to a victory at the end speaks volumes, 400-plus yards passing, no picks, three touchdowns, pretty good start for the season. And it’s just something that we've got to continue to improve on, and he’s the kind of guy that’s going to do that every day.” - 49ers OC Greg Roman on Colin Kaepernick

"He has this ability to change directions that makes him extremely quick and that suddenness is what gets him open but then it goes to the savvy that he has and the time he's spent working with Russell. Those guys really are relying on seeing things in the same fashion and being able to take advantage of the opportunities." - Seahawks coach Pete Carroll on WR Doug Baldwin.

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VR 3* Seahawks ML ( o-2 on 3* today ) 1-2 over all today

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RTG Sports

Sunday Night:

2-Team 7 Point Teaser -130*

San Francisco 49ers +10

Under 51