Last season was something of a disappointment after the overachieving nature of the previous campaign, where Kyle Shanahan led the 49ers to a Super Bowl defeat to the Kansas City Chiefs.…

A 6-10 regular season record was, to be fair, a more reasonable finish given the rather average side available at San Francisco’s disposal. Injuries certainly took their toll at the franchise and now a lot of expectations fall upon newly drafted quarterback Trey Lance.

So just what can the 49ers achieve in 2021? Well a look at the latest 49ers odds suggest that there is a possibility of improvement and there could be some interesting bets to consider for the coming season, which kicks-off with a trip to Ford Field to take on the Detroit Lions.

NFC Conference Winner (+525)

Last season the 49ers finished a lowly 10th in the NFC, and therefore found themselves two games off the wildcards but with Lance on board and hopes high that Nick Bosa can pick up where he left off before he had his ACL issues. Currently the 49ers are set in second favorite spot with most sportsbooks, behind Tampa Bay and somewhere level with the Green Bay Packers.

A bet on a conference win seems a far more realistic shot than a Super Bowl triumph and the 49ers have at least made it to the Championship game in three of the past nine seasons.

Win Total: 10.5 - Over (-105)

We predict that the 49ers start things off with a win at Detroit and picking up 11 wins, in a 17 game season, is definitely a bet worth pursuing. A fully fit San Francisco 49ers roster is one that is capable of producing such numbers.

Last year was certainly an ugly one, and concluding it with a 2-7 run is going to be hard to shake, but a return to form is expected by most.

Trey Lance to Win Offensive Rookie of the Year (+650)

First Lance must unseat Jimmy Garoppolo as the starting QB in Shanahan’s plans, which is about 50/50 at present, but should the 21-year-old manage to do that then a bet on the North Dakota State graduate to win the offensive rookie of the year is a solid one.

He is currently third favorite behind Trevor Lawrence, who is hotly tipped to turn things around at the Jacksonville Jaguars, and Justin Fields at the Chicago Bears.

The 49ers have finished pre-season strong, with wins over the Los Angeles Chargers and the Las Vegas Raiders, after a narrow loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, and the signs are pointing in the right direction for San Francisco.

Trey Lance is currently looking good to recover from a finger injury sustained during that 34-10 win over the Raiders, but whether he does so in time for the opener against the Lions is another matter.

When it comes to that opener, it’s well worth backing the 49ers, even with a (-7) in the spread. The 49ers beat Detroit 30-27 the last time they went head to head, back in 2018.