Only six teams remain undefeated through two weeks of NFL action, meaning a ton of squads will be looking to prove they have what it takes to win in Week 3. The Denver Broncos will aim to make it two home victories in a row when they host the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday Night Football.
The 49ers saw veteran quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo lead the team to a 27-7 win in Week 2 after starter Trey Lance went down with a brutal ankle injury. Meanwhile, the Broncos leaned on their defense to give quarterback Russell Wilson and head coach Nathaniel Hackett their first W in Denver.
Should San Francisco really be favored in one of the toughest road environments in the NFL? Do the Broncos have any chance of getting over the .500 mark with an upset win? Here's what projection models and experts across the industry have to say about the 49ers vs Broncos Week 3 matchup.
49ers vs Broncos Projections
ESPN FPI:'49ers (51.4%)
numberFire:'49ers (50.5%)
FiveThirtyEight:'Broncos (51%)
Betting Favorite:'49ers (-1.5)
Projected Winner:'49ers (3), Broncos (1)
49ers vs Broncos Expert Picks
ESPN Experts:'49ers (8), Broncos (1)
Sports Illustrated Experts: 49ers (4), Broncos (1)
CBS Sports Experts:'49ers (7), Broncos (1)
Expert Totals:'49ers (19), Broncos (3)
This game may be close to a pick 'em on the spread, but the experts see a clear winner. A majority of them backed the 49ers, which lines up with what the betting market is saying.
The projection models expect the game to stay close. All three of the models listed gave the 49ers less than a 52% chance of winning and one even favored the Broncos at home.
Anything can happen when the lights are shining bright on SNF, so fans should prepare for a thrilling game.