San Francisco 49ers

Season after season, the NFL standings are littered with teams that were thought to be football betting value, but for one reason or another, turned out to be disappointments. Such was the case with the 2007 San Francisco 49ers.

After winning four games in coach Mike Nolan's first season in 2005, San Fran followed that up with a seven-win campaign in '06. QB Alex Smith, the former No. 1 overall pick in the draft, showed improvement in his second season and the Niners – thinking they were on the verge of contending in the mediocre NFC West – went after some veteran talent over the 06-07 offseason. But playing for his third offensive coordinator in three seasons, and with limited help from the running game, Smith took a step backward last year and then separated his shoulder. San Francisco proceeded to stumble through a 5-11 season last year, and now finds itself as a team with a questionable future.

The 49ers ranked dead last in the league last season in total offense at a meager 237 YPG, and 27th in rushing at 92 YPG. On the other side of the ball, San Francisco ranked 25th in total defense at 346 YPG and 22nd vs. the run at 119 YPG. And the Niners posted a -12 turnover ratio for the season, third-worst in the league, although that particular statistic tends to balance itself out over the course of a season or two.

San Fran also ranked last in the league in both total yardage at a dismal -109 YPG and in average time-of-possession at -5:46 per game. All of which made the 49ers one of the worst teams in the league to bet on, going 5-11 vs. the NFL betting lines, and 2-6 ATS on the road. Also, the totals went 6-10 in Niners games last year, which averaged just 36.5 total points, thanks to that anemic SF offense that couldn't even average 14 points per outing.

Over the offseason the 49ers tried to bolster the defense by bringing in DE Justin Smith and LB Dontarrious Thomas, and they used their first-round draft choice on DT Kentwan Balmer out of North Carolina. They also signed WRs Isaac Bruce away from St. Louis and Bryant Johnson from Arizona. RB Frank Gore can be a workhorse, and should be utilized as such. Gore produced over 1,500 yards from scrimmage last season, but his per-touch production was down a full yard from 2006. And Smith went down and out for the season during camp, so the starting QB position fell to JT O'Sullivan, a journeyman already (five teams in his first six years in the league).

San Francisco also imported offensive coordinator Mike Martz to run the offense this year, which isn't necessarily a good sign. This team is in trouble. A run at the West title seems unlikely, and without it, the Niners may be looking for yet another head coach.