The San Francisco 49ers and the Las Vegas Raiders each have something to prove this season, but in very different ways. 

Sunday’s visiting 49ers have been a near-constant in the Super Bowl discussion in the Kyle Shanahan era, but still have yet to win their sixth title. Meanwhile, the Raiders have to bounce back after a terrible 6-11 season which saw them miss out on the playoffs.

As usual, a lot of this preseason discussion is about who isn’t there, whether that’s starting quarterbacks or Raiders running back Josh Jacobs, who is holding out. Don’t miss our NFL picks and predictions for 49ers vs Raiders on Sunday, August 13.

49ers vs Raiders odds

49ers vs Raiders predictions

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The Chicago Bears head to The Big Easy to take on the New Orleans Saints this Sunday. In the Week 9 odds, the Bears will try to bounce back from an ugly loss on the road to the Chargers, while the Saints aim to build on a road victory against the Colts last week.

NFL odds opened with the Saints as 7.5-point favorites for this contest before moving to -8.5. Here are my best free NFL picks for Bears vs. Saints on November 5.

Bears vs Saints odds

Bears vs Saints predictions

While the Chicago Bears have one of the worst overall defenses in the NFL, they’ve surprisingly been phenomenal against the run. The Bears rank third in defensive rush EPA and success rate while holding opponents to a league-low 3.3 yards per ca…

The NFL season is down to just three games, starting with a pair of conference championships next Sunday. 

The Conference Championship odds are rolling out as the Divisional Round comes to a close and I’ll be reacting to the opening NFL odds with my best spread and totals to “Bet Now” and which lines you may want to “Bet Later”.

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While it’s been a less-than-ideal start for Caleb Williams’ NFL career, he’s got a favorable matchup on Sunday vs. a vulnerable Los Angeles Rams secondary. 

With a chance to get back to .500, my Rams vs. Colts predictions believe Williams is sitting on a big passing game. 

Find out more in my NFL picks for Sunday, September 29.

Rams vs Bears prediction

My best betCaleb Williams Over 224.5 passing yards (-115 at BetMGM)

My analysis

While it hasn’t exactly been pretty, Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams has now thrown for more yards and a higher yards per attempt in consecutive games after airing it out for a monster 363 yards and 7.0 YPA against Indianapolis in Week 3.

Now, the first overa…

As payback for an elbow to the Adam's apple in a game that season, John Lynch nearly threw hands with Terrell Owens poolside in Hawaii before a Pro Bowl more than two decades ago. Lynch was held back by his wife that day, but the current GM of the San Francisco 49ers might need to be restrained from jumping headlong into a draft class with depth in the gene pool. Owens' son is part of the cluster of former pro progeny eager to be selected in the 2024 NFL Draft. The best-known sons of former NFL stars on the draft hopeful list this week are Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. and Notre Dame offensive tackle Joe Alt. They're projected to be drafted early in the first round. Harrison is the son of Pro Football Hall of Fame receiver Marvin Harrison, perhaps best kno…

Sky Sports has announced an attempt to clamp down on online abuse after a “surge” in hateful messages during lockdown. The broadcaster recorded an increase in misogynistic posts after its expanded coverage of women’s football and discussion of the Black Lives Matter movement prompted a sharp rise in racist content on its sites and social media channels.

New measures will include more moderation of content on Sky’s own sites, including the removal of posts and blocking of users, and the company has pledged to “work with the social media platforms and policymakers to make their platforms safer and more respectful”.

Matt Le Tissier, Charlie Nicholas and Phil Thompson leaving Sky SportsRead more

“We have se…

Erik ten Hag has decided Anthony Martial will not be sold or loaned by Manchester United in the current window because Cristiano Ronaldo’s uncertain future means the manager needs the No 9 for the new season.

Martial has been one of United’s best performers on their pre-season tour, scoring in each of the three wins – against Liverpool, Melbourne Victory and Crystal Palace.

‘We missed that’: Bruno Fernandes backs strict Ten Hag’s fines for latenessRead more

Yet the 26-year-old disappointed last term, managing only two goals and one assist in 23 appearances for United and Sevilla, where he spent the second half of the season on loan. This caused speculation he might be allowed to depart but with Ronaldo wi…

When Fran Kirby felt what England staff hope is just a bit of rotation in her previously injured knee in the warm-up ahead of Friday’s impressive 7-2 defeat of Austria, there would be no risks taken. Kirby, named in the starting XI, was replaced as a precaution with Ella Toone coming in.

This was not an unfamiliar switch, with Toone regularly coming off the bench in place of Kirby or starting in the No 10 role in her absence. But this was not the only change Sarina Wiegman made, the manager grasping the opportunity to rotate and experiment in some increasingly rare friendly fixtures. Grace Clinton was handed her debut, Hannah Hampton started in goal, Maya Le Tissier played at right-back and Lotte Wubben-Moy and Jess Park came off the bench…