NFL Best Bets For Today (January 3): Seahawks vs 49ers Betting Odds & Player Prop Bets

The final week (18) of the NFL season is here, and tonight should be an epic matchup between the Seahawks and 49ers.

(Photo by Mike Christy/Getty Images)

It's a battle for the NFC West!

Tonight, Sam Darnold and the Seattle Seahawks (13-3, 7-1 away) will face Brock Purdy and the San Francisco 49ers (12-4, 5-2 home).

While some teams decide to rest their players in week 18, tonight is an important one. Not only did the Seahawks surprise the NFL world after signing Sam Darnold, but they led the NFC West with a 13-3 record. A win today over the 49ers would crown the Seahawks the division winners for the first time since 2020.

Worst-case scenario? If the Seahawks lose tonight, they will finish as the No. 5 seed in the NFC.  The same goes for San Francisco—a loss Saturday night would place them as the No.5 seed, only if the Rams defeat the Cardinals. If Arizona comes up victorious over Matthew Stafford and company, the 49ers could drop to the No. 6 seed.

Either way, both teams are in the NFL playoff picture. Not only is tonight's matchup for pride, but it's also for the NFC West title. With that, seeding matters, so there's a lot on the line.

Another important factor tonight: whoever wins this matchup will earn the top seed, along with home-field advantage AND a first-round bye. That doesn't sound too shabby now, does it?

Who Will Win The NFC West: Seahawks or 49ers?

The Seahawks are hot, winning six straight games, and are 9-1 in their last 10 games. Perhaps the defense doesn't quite live up to the Legion of Boom, but it's fairly close. While the offense is humming, the defense is matching up. Boasting the top-rated defense in the NFL, the offense is headlined by Darnold and Jaxon Smith-Nnigba, among several others.

Equally as hot, the 49ers are riding a six-game win streak, which includes an exhilarating 42-38 week 17 matchup over Caleb Williams and the Bears. Brock Purdy stole the show (and painfully took over my fantasy football final), but how will they hold up against a stingy Seattle defense?

Both teams have injuries, including George Kittle, Ricky Pearsall, and Trent Williams for the 49ers. The Seahawks will once again be without offensive lineman Charles Cross, and now his backup, Josh Jones, is questionable to play.

The books are predicting a close matchup, as the 49ers are 2.5-point spread underdogs at home. The Seahawks have a 59 % chance (-146 ML) to win outright, and the over/under total is set at 47.5 points. Predicting as one of the higher scoring matchups of the week, will we see a shootout tonight?

Tonight should be a movie considering the Seahawks are the favorite (+500) among sportsbooks to win Super Bowl LX. Currently, the 49ers hold the seventh-best odds (+1100) to raise the Lombardi Trophy.

Odds Are Current As Of January 3 AT 1 P.M. ET

If you're looking to bet on the Seahawks vs. 49ers matchup, welcome!

Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California.  With the weather forecast predicting mild temperatures and 14 mph wind gusts, the air quality should be prime for tonight's showdown.

As we head into the final week of the NFL season, let's take a closer look at my three best bets, player prop picks, and predictions for the Jan.3 Saturday showdown featuring the Seahawks and 49ers. My Saturday bets will focus on player props for Christian McCaffrey and Zach Charbonnet, as well as game props.

Are you in search of further NFL and sports betting promotions? We have compiled a list of the best sports betting offers here. 

NFL WEEK 18 BETS: Seattle Seahawks vs San Francisco 49ers Buccaneers FanDuel Odds For January 3

MONEYLINE

• SEATTLE SEAHAWKS: -146
• SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS: +124

SPREAD

• SEATTLE SEAHAWKS: -2.5 (-110)
• SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS: +2.5 (-110)

OVER/UNDER (TOTAL)

• OVER: 47.5 (-110)
• UNDER: 47.5 (-110)

BEST ODDS FOR SEATTLE SEAHAWKS VS SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

• FanDuel has the best odds, favoring the Seattle Seahawks by 2.5 points (-110)
• The San Francisco 49ers will get a home game for the eighth time this NFL season.  DraftKings offers the best odds at -102, tabbing the 49ers as 2.5-point spread underdogs.
• FanDuel and BetMGM currently offer the best odds for the game totals. BetMGM offers the best value for the under (47.5) at -105, while FanDuel offers the best value for the over (47.5) at -110 odds.

Seattle Seahawks vs San Francisco 49ers Injury Report

SEAHAWKS

1. Charles Cross, LT: OUT
2. Josh Jones, LT: QUESTIONABLE
3. Coby Bryant, SS: DOUBTFUL
4. Tory Horton, WR: IR
5. AJ Finley, SS: IR

49ERS

1. Ricky Pearsall, WR: QUESTIONABLE
2. George Kittle, TE: QUESTIONABLE
3. Trent Williams, LT: QUESTIONABLE
4. Upton Stout, NB: QUESTIONABLE
5. Nick Martin, LB: IR

NFL Predictions for Saturday, January 3, Week 18: Seahawks vs 49ers

NFL Player Prop Bets Today: Zach Charbonnet

• Anytime Touchdown Scorer (+125 Fanatics)

My first-best bets for tonight, I placed one unit on Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet to score a touchdown.

I bet on this same player prop last week, and I'm not fading it this week.

It's clear that Seattle head coach Mike Macdonald will continue to deploy a running back committee with Charbonnet and Keneth Walker III. And it's becoming increasingly evident that Charbonnet is a massive part of the offense.

In week 17's 27-10 victory over the Panthers, it was Charbonnet who led the way with 110 rushing yards on 18 carries for two touchdowns. While Walker III contributed with 51 rushing yards on 15 carries, Charbonnet played the most snaps at 53%.

There's no doubt that Walker is one of the most explosive running backs in the league, averaging 4.5 yards per carry. While Charbonnet doesn't exceed that, his average of 6.1 YPC turned heads last week. That includes a 29-yard run against Carolina.

Do The Seahawks Have The Best Running Back Committee In The NFL?

While Walker has been the one with the most carries per week, is last week's changeup a sign of the times? We are talking about a Seattle team that scores over 57 % in the red zone, and Charbonnet has been hot!

I simply don't understand how this player prop line is priced at +125 odds, especially for a player who's scored 11 touchdowns on the season. Cracking the top seven among NFL running backs with total touchdowns, Charbonnet is the clear goal-line back for Seattle.

There is a case to make for Walker, who has just five touchdowns on the season, but are we really going to fade Charbonnet here? Not only does he have more red zone rush attempts (45) than Walker, but Charbonnet has rushed for 105 yards for 11 yards inside the 20-yard-line. Charbonnet is a player who won several people their fantasy football championship last week!

He's been on a tear, especially since week 10. And over those last seven weeks, he's led all Seahawks' running backs with 65 rushing yards, six touchdowns on 24 attempts inside the red zone. Compare that to Walker III, who scored just one touchdown over that span.  Speaking of Walker III, he's scored just one touchdown with 13 red zone attempts over the last six games. Charbonnet, on the other hand, has three tuddies over the past two games, and crossed the plane five times over the last six games.

Overall, this is a prime matchup for Charbonnet, who faces a 49ers defense that ranks No. 22 in defensive rush DVOA. And this prop may even be stronger if Trent Williams is unable to play tonight.

Final Seahawks vs 49ers NFL betting prediction:  Zach Charbonnet Anytime Touchdown Scorer (+125 Fanatics)

I'm confident in this play, considering the fact that the 49ers allow opponents to score over 57% in the red zone this season. Plus, they've allowed four rushing touchdowns to running backs over the last three weeks—two of which came against Bears' running back D'Andre Swift last week.

• I'm taking Zach Charbonnet to score a touchdown tonight. With a 6.6% touchdown rate, he last recorded 47 yards on 12 carries and a touchdown against the 49ers in week 1. It's clear Walker III is the more utilized, explosive back, but Charbonnet is the clear No.1 goal-line guy. 

NFL Player Prop Bets Today: Christian McCaffrey

• 60+ Rushing Yards (-146 DraftKings)

This next bet may be a popular one, but I'm riding with the public tonight. I'm taking 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey to record over 60+ rushing yards.

McCaffrey has returned from injury flawlessly and has been one of the most durable, utilized running backs in the NFL this season.

The true No.1 workhorse back for head coach Kyle Shanahan, McCaffrey has been equally effective in the run game as he's been in the receiving field. Recording a career-high 890 receiving yards, he's rushed for 1,179 yards and 10 touchdowns through 16 games.

Overall, McCaffrey has been the mainstay through several injuries to George Kittle and Ricky Pearsall, to name a few. Following a few monstrous performances, he's rushed for 117+ yards in two straight weeks, tallying 44 carries and 257 receiving yards against the Colts and Bears.

Why Christian McCaffrey Can Lead The 49ers Tonight

A force in the backfield, there's no denying McCaffrey is a crucial part of this 49ers defense. And with Shanahan at the helm, perhaps he'll be used uniquely tonight. We all remember how Deebo Samuel was used in the wildcat formation at times.

While 60 receiving yards may seem steep, McCaffrey's volume hasn't been a concern, as he's tallied 20+ rushes in five straight games. Averaging 19.8 touches over that span, he's been the one constant force for San Francisco. He may have an expanded role if Kittle and Pearsall are unable to suit up tonight.

There's no denying the fact that Seattle boasts the top defensive DVOA and ranks No. 1 in defensive rush DVOA. With that, this is a tall task, considering that Seattle ranks first in rush EPA, allowing just 75.4 rushing yards to running backs this season.

Only a handful of running backs have rushed for over 60 yards, and that list includes Kyren Williams (91 yards), Bijan Robinson (86 yards), and Jonathan Taylor (87 yards). Not to mention, McCaffrey recorded 69 rushing yards on 22 carries and 73 receiving yards in week 1 against Seattle.

Few have exploded through a sturdy defense, but the ones that have are elite. In this case, McCaffrey is one of the most elite running backs in the NFL.

Final Seahawks vs 49ers NFL betting prediction:  Christian McCaffrey 60+ Rushing Yards (-146 DraftKings)

While this player prop is a bit juiced, there's still great value there. Especially given the fact that McCaffrey has averaged 60+ rushing yards (92 avg.) in five of the last six games. Not to mention, he's been a killer, rushing for an average of 105.6 yards over the six head-to-head matchups with Seattle.

If he hasn't gone under this prop line at all against them since 2022, why would I fade that now?

• I'm taking Christian McCaffrey to record 60+ rushing yards tonight. All eyes will be on McCaffrey, who's averaging just shy of 25 touches per game. Having such a high usage rate, it's hard to fade him in a must-win matchup.  Again, volume, volume, volume...

NFL Team Bets Today: Seahawks vs 49ers

• Seattle Seahawks Team Total Points Over 23.5 (-140 DraftKings)

My third-best bet for tonight, I placed one unit on the Seattle Seahawks to record over 23.5 points.

If you haven't noticed, the Seahawks' offense is humming at the right time. Fresh off a 27-10 victory over the Panthers, they've now scored at least 27+ points in two consecutive games, averaging 29.3 points over the last six games.

Sam Darnold is a long shot to win NFL MVP (+50000), but we can't ignore his contributions to the team and his electric connection with Jaxson Smith-Njigba.

Both squads possess top-tier offenses, and the Seahawks rank No. 8 in offensive DVOA. I truly don't believe 24 points is much to ask for, especially against a 49ers team that ranks No. 24 in defensive DVOA.

If we look at the 49ers, there's no question they are playing some of the best offensive ball in the NFL. Scoring back-to-back 40+ points, it seems the last three games have been shootouts. In fact, they've allowed the Bears, Colts, and Titans to score 24+ points over the last three weeks.

Besides holding the Browns and Panthers to a combined 17 points midseason, the defense has been tumultuous.  Allowing an average of 29.7 points over the last three weeks, we are talking about a team that gave up 38 points to the Bears, including 330 passing yards and two touchdowns to Caleb Williams.

Final Seahawks vs 49ers NFL betting prediction: Seahawks Over 24.5 Points (-140 DraftKings)

Instead of betting on the over/under, I'm going with the Seahawks tonight.  Not only is Seattle 7-1 on the road, but they are averaging 28.1 points away from their home turf. Not to mention, they've scored 24+ points in five of their seven games on the road.

• I'm taking the Seahawks to score over 24.5 points tonight. Given their recent performances, this is a lethal team that's finally found the perfect on-the-ground combination in Charbonnet and Walker. While Darnold threw for just 147 yards last week, the Seattle run game tallied 147 total yards. While limited to just 13 points against the 49ers in week 1, the offense has since evolved.