Sunday Night Football in Week 13 of the NFL season is an intriguing showdown between the San Francisco 49ers and Buffalo Bills. Both teams could really use a victory, albeit for very different reasons. San Francisco (5-6) is almost in must-win mode in its surprisingly desperate playoff bid. Buffalo (9-2) is trying to stay within striking distance of the Kansas City Chiefs for the #1 seed in the AFC.
Here is my Same Game Parlay for the festivities, which get underway at 8:20 pm ET on NBC. Also be sure to check out our full 49ers vs Bills predictions.
Bills -9.5 alternate spread (+148)
James Cook to score a touchdown (-115)
James Cook to record 100+ rushing yards (+310)
Parlay odds: +672
Part of the value in a Same Game Parlay, of course, is that all of its components can be correlated if you so choose. That is the entire plan here, as Buffalo running back James Cook scoring a touchdown and racking up a ton of yards would obviously work well with a big win by the Bills. Let’s break down each of the 3 legs.
Bills -9.5 alternate spread (+148)
This regular-season matchup figured to be a potential Super Bowl preview when the 2024 campaign began. The Bills have held up their end of the bargain, but the 49ers certainly aren’t looking like Lombardi Trophy contenders. Heck, San Francisco may not even make the playoffs. Head coach Kyle Shanahan’s squad continues to be depleted. Trent Williams and Nick Bosa are out, while Brock Purdy is questionable with an injury to his throwing shoulder. Christian McCaffrey returned from a foot issue in Week 10 but has not looked like his real self through 3 games. Now the Niners have to face a Bills defense that ranks #7 in scoring and #8 in yards per pass attempt allowed. Josh Allen has Buffalo looking like a well-oiled machine on the other side of the ball, as well. This team has won 6 in a row overall and is 5-0 at home this season, so it’s hard to see San Francisco pulling off an upset or – let’s be honest – even being competitive. Give me Buffalo to win going away.
James Cook to score a touchdown (-115)
I’m not saying Cook is a mortal lock to find the endzone, but…you at least have to feel very good about his chances. After all, he has scored at least once in 5 of the last 6 contests and in 7 of the last 9. This 9-game stretch includes 3 multi-touchdown efforts. The former Georgia standout has scored 11 TDs overall this season (10 rushing, 1 receiving). He now faces a San Francisco defense that has given up as many or more rushing touchdowns than every team in the NFL other than the Carolina Panthers and Dallas Cowboys (16).
James Cook to record 100+ rushing yards (+310)
Staying on the Cook bandwagon, I also wouldn’t be surprised to see him reach the 100-yard mark on the ground. The 25-year-old has done it only once in 2024, but that came just last month against the Indianapolis Colts (111 yards) and he has gained at least 80 in 3 of the last 6 outings. The 49ers’ defense is allowing 110.8 yards per game on 4.2 yards per rushing attempt – decent but unspectacular numbers. With the Niners ranking #6 against the pass and a weather forecast calling for freezing temperatures and wind, it won’t be easy to move the ball through the air. All things considered, Cook should be in line for a huge night.