Prediction: Denver Broncos VS San Francisco 49ers 2025-08-09

Denver Broncos vs. San Francisco 49ers Preseason Showdown: A Tale of Two Defenses (and One Very Confused Rookie)

Parse the Odds: The Numbers Don’t Lie (Mostly)
The odds tell a clear story: the Denver Broncos are the favorite, with implied probabilities hovering around 55-56% to win, while the 49ers sit at 48-50%. The spread (-1.5 for Denver, +1.5 for SF) and the total (34.5 points) suggest this won’t be a blowout, but the Broncos’ defense—ranked #1 in preseason D/ST rankings by USA Today—has the edge. For context, the 49ers’ defense is expected to take a step back in 2025, which is like seeing a once-flourishing bakery replaced by a very confused food truck.

Digest the News: Injuries, Veterans, and a Calf That Hates the 49ers
The 49ers are in a bit of a mess. Their second-round pick, Collins, is “struggling with conditioning and technical development due to a calf injury.” Translation: He’s the human equivalent of a smartphone that won’t charge and keeps autocorrecting your texts to “I love you” at inopportune moments. Meanwhile, the Broncos are riding high on Courtland Sutton’s $92 million contract extension, which is either a statement of confidence or a very expensive bet on his ability to not fumble during pre-game intros.

San Francisco’s silver lining? They signed veteran WR Robbie Chosen, a guy who’s “bounced around the league” but knows Kyle Shanahan’s playbook like a librarian knows where to find the romance section. Problem is, their offensive line is still a work in progress, and their rookie QB is likely to play limited snaps—think of him as a toddler in a NFL helmet: charming, but not ready for a tackle football tournament.

Humorous Spin: Football, Fails, and Flying Trapeze Artists
Let’s talk about the Broncos’ defense. Ranked #1 in preseason D/ST, they’re the reason Denver’s altitude is legendary—only now, it’s the opposition’s morale that’s getting thin. Their secondary is “upgraded,” per the news, which is code for “we’re not letting you throw the ball here unless you’re paid to.” The 49ers, on the other hand, are trying to patch together a defense that’s “expected to take a step back.” If football defenses had Instagram accounts, the 49ers’ would be on hiatus with a story saying, “Taking a break to focus on self-care… and not letting running backs through.”

And let’s not forget the 49ers’ recent baseball woes. The Sheridan Troopers finally beat Gillette after four losses—kudos to them—but the 49ers’ football team could use a similar “get over the hump” moment. Their offense, without a fully healthy Collins or a rookie QB finding his sea legs, is like a火锅 (hot pot) without heat: present, but not particularly thrilling.

Prediction: Broncos Shut Down the 49ers’ “Aha!” Moment
Putting it all together: The Broncos’ elite defense, bolstered by a secondary that could catch a falling piano (metaphorically), will suffocate the 49ers’ shaky offense. San Francisco’s veteran WRs can’t outmuscle Denver’s linebackers, and their rookie QB won’t stay on the field long enough to recite the team’s playbook. The 49ers’ trenches? They’re still digging themselves out of a hole they didn’t realize they were in.

Final Verdict: Bet on the Broncos to win 17-10, unless the 49ers pull off a Hail Mary that’s more “Hail, Mary, save us from this preseason curse” than anything else. Denver’s defense is the real deal, and San Francisco’s “rebuilding project” has more “project” than “rebuilding.” As the books say: the odds are as clear as a Denver sky—sunny, slightly smug, and not in doubt.

Go Broncos, or as the 49ers would say, “Go 49ers… and also, please fix your O-line.” 🏈

Created: Aug. 4, 2025, 2:39 p.m. GMT

Pikkit - Sports Betting Tracker, Odds, Insights & Analysis.