49ers vs Jets: Betting preview & predictions for Monday Night Football

After a long offseason, primetime football is finally back on our screens. A scintillating Sunday of NFL action has led us to a Monday night clash between the 49ers and Jets. Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the game.

49ers vs Jets: Game info

Date: Monday, Sept. 9
Time: 8:15 p.m. ET
Location: Levis Stadium
TV channel: ESPN

Betting info

Spread: San Francisco 49ers -4 | New York Jets +4
Moneyline: San Francisco 49ers -198 | New York Jets +164
Total: Over/Under 43.5

Betting preview

The San Francisco 49ers come into their opening matchup as home favorites over the Jets, which shouldn’t come as a surprise. The Super Bowl finalists are coming off of a tremendous 2023 season where they did everything right until the final game.

Keen to right those wrongs, the Niners have retained all of their Championship-caliber pieces. Brandon Aiyuk and Trent Williams return despite some uncertainty earlier in the offseason, they added some stunning rookies into the equation too such as WR Ricky Pearsall (inactive following a terrible incident where he was shot) and CB Renardo Green. The team only seems to be getting better, and that’s bad news for everyone else.

As for the Jets, this is a year to make up for lost time. Derailed by the Week 1 injury to Aaron Rodgers last season, it’s been a painful wait for New York. But the roster looks stronger now than it did then, and the combo of Breece Hall and Garrett Wilson could be problematic for opposing defenses.

The wildcard in all of this is Haason Reddick, who shockingly has still not showed up to the Jets’ facility following his trade from Philadelphia nearly half a year ago. He wants a bigger contract and the Jets are refusing to pay him something he hasn’t earned yet. This has left New York without a dominant pass-rusher, given that Reddick was bought in to replace the departing Bryce Huff, who ironically wound up in Philadelphia.

With a weakened pass-rush facing such a terrifying offense, it’s going to be a tough day of sledding for the rebuilt Jets defense, who will be banking on their back 7 to contain the likes of Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, and of course, Christian McCaffrey, who tallied 1,459 rushing yards along with 564 rushing yards in 2023.

Why the 49ers can win

Simply put, this is one of the best rosters in football. Brock Purdy continues to prove people wrong, and the offense is returning all of its starters from last year. The defense will face a tough challenge in keeping Breece Hall and company quiet, but if it becomes a shootout, the absence of pressure off the edge and advantageous rushing settings might just tilt the scales in San Francisco’s favor.

Why the Jets can win

We’re yet to really see what Aaron Rodgers can do in this offense. Does he still have that legendary ability to put a game on his shoulders? You can never write off one of the greatest to ever do it, and Breece Hall’s ascent to the upper-echelon of NFL running backs will only help that task.

If the Niners are even mildly complacent, this is a big prove-it spot for the Jets who will be looking to make a statement.

Betting pick

I think the 49ers have the ability to win this pretty comfortably. The roster is simply too talented and there are too many question marks over New York to back them in a spread this close. However, I do like the over. 43 points feels low for a pair of offenses that should be able to score in bunches with relative ease.

I’ll be backing the Niners to win -4 and the OVER 43.5 points.