The Denver Broncos have been all business this summer, embracing the tag of Super Bowl dark horses, and we should see some of their big names against the San Francisco 49ers in tonight’s preseason opener.
While San Francisco is likely to sit most of its starters, Sean Payton is taking a different approach for Denver, and my Broncos vs. 49ers predictions signal a lopsided scoreline at Levi’s Stadium.
Check out my NFL picks for this August 9 matchup, with the regular season now less than a month away.
Broncos vs 49ers prediction
Broncos vs 49ers Best bet: Broncos -7 (-110 at bet365)
‘If we’re not trying to go win a Super Bowl, why are we here?’
Bo Nix clearly isn’t shying away from the mounting buzz around this Denver Broncos roster, and he’s expected to take some snaps here for the visitors along with the rest of the starters.
Given that the San Francisco 49ers are probably playing the long game with a veteran-laden group, Denver may only need a few series with Nix at the controls to pull into a big lead, and I’m comfortable laying the points with the Broncos in this spot.
This is also a wager on the depth at Payton’s disposal, including a running back room that features J.K. Dobbins and rookie RJ Harvey. Even when Denver turns to its second-stringers, there’s enough talent to sustain drives in the ground game.
On the other side of the ball, the 49ers will likely turn to Mac Jones at quarterback tonight, and I’m not ready to trust in some of the hype coming out of the San Francisco training camp.
Without starter-caliber receivers to target, it could be a long night for the hosts’ offense, particularly if the elite Broncos defense sees steady minutes. That unit allowed the third-fewest points per game in the NFL last season.
It’s also worth noting that the 49ers lost their first preseason game in both of the last two years, including a 34-7 thumping at the hands of the Las Vegas Raiders in 2023.
Broncos vs 49ers odds
Broncos vs 49ers live odds
Broncos vs 49ers opening odds
- Spread: Broncos -7 (-110) | 49ers +7 (-110)
- Moneyline: Broncos -305 | 49ers +245
- Over/Under: Over 36.5 (-110) | Under 36.5 (-110)
How to watch Broncos vs 49ers
| Location: | Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, CA |
| Date: | Saturday, August 9, 2025 |
| Kickoff: | 8:30 p.m. ET |
| TV: | KUSA-NBC, KPIX-CBS |
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