2013 Record: 12-4

2014 Las Vegas Season Win Total: 10.5

2014 Season Win Total Pick: 'Over'

For the third straight season the 49ers have come tantalizingly close to the franchise's sixth Super Bowl championship. San Francisco came fingertips away from both a title in 2012 and a return trip to The Big Game last year. They've had an eventful offseason, including some touchy issues surrounding Jim Harbaugh's status with the organization, but enter the year as one of the NFC's favorites.

The strength of this team is still its running game and hard-hitting defense. That has not changed a bit and the Niners will again be one of the most physical teams in football.

Defensively the Niners have taken some hits. Pro Bowl linebacker NaVorro Bowman will miss most, if not all, of the season after tearing his ACL in the NFC Title game. San Francisco's secondary has gotten thinner and the depth on the two-deep has been completely siphoned off. This is still a very good unit. But they will need more help from the offense.

A move that has flown somewhat under the radar, but one that I think can have a dramatic impact on this offense, was the trade that landed the Niners Stevie Johnson. Johnson, who I have called a poor man's Steve Smith, gives San Francisco a touch of explosiveness and a capable No. 3 for the first time in years.

The 49ers are 3-0 against their season win total since Harbaugh took over, averaging 12 wins per season. Their schedule is actually very manageable. Despite facing the NFC East, the 49ers only have two games - at New Orleans and at the Giants in Weeks 10 and 11, respectively - that involved travel and a 10 a.m. PST kickoff. Those are also the only two times the Niners will leave the West Coast after Week 7.

I am not in a rush to bet against Harbaugh, who has been a pure moneymaker for backers since his time at Stanford. All Harbaugh does is win. While they may not be as deep as the teams of the past two seasons this group is every bit as talented. And I think that they have one or two more pushes in them to win that championship. I'll go with the 'over' in this one, although I think San Francisco is really going to have to hustle to top last year's mark.

49ers Regular Season Schedule (All times Eastern)

Week 1: Sunday, Sept. 7, at Dallas, 4:25 p.m.

Week 2: Sunday, Sept. 14, Chicago, 8:30 p.m.

Week 3: Sunday, Sept. 21, at Arizona, 4:05 p.m.

Week 4: Sunday, Sept. 28, Philadelphia, 4:25 p.m.

Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 5, Kansas City, 4:25 p.m.

Week 6: Monday, Oct. 13, at St. Louis, 8:30 p.m.

Week 7: Sunday, Oct. 19, at Denver, 8:30 p.m.

Week 8: BYE

Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 2, St. Louis, 4:05 p.m.

Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 9, at New Orleans, 1 p.m.

Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 16, at NY Giants, 1 p.m.

Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 23, Washington, 4:25 p.m.

Week 13: Thursday, Nov. 27, Seattle, 8:30 p.m.

Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 7, at Oakland, 4:25 p.m.

Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 14, at Seattle, 4:25 p.m.

Week 16: Saturday, Dec. 20, San Diego, 4:30 p.m.

Week 17: Sunday, Dec. 28, Arizona, 4:25 p.m.

Robert will be releasing his 2014 NFL Futures Picks on Thursday, Aug. 14. Last year's top two picks (8-Unit Play on Arizona 'over' 5.5 wins and 6-Unit Play on Kansas City over 7.0 wins) both won easily and he has hit his top NFL Futures Play (rated 7.0 or higher) in four straight seasons. For more information visit his Insider's Page HERE.

Robert Ferringo is one of the best NFL handicappers in the world and is coming off one of the best football betting seasons in the 43-year history of Doc's Sports. Robert banked nearly $8,000 in profit for his football clients and won a stunning 62.1 percent of his NFL plays (95-58). Robert has won over 70 percent of his last 58 NFL side plays (41-17) and has posted six of seven winning NFL seasons. He has banked $17,400 in football profit, college and pro, over the last 20 months and he is excited about building on his staggering resume. Take advantage of our free, no-strings-attached $60 credit to use toward a purchase of Robert's football selections. You cannot afford to miss out on this great offer - click here.

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