49ers-Cowboys player props: San Francisco poised for big day in Big D

As we evaluate our trio of player props for the 49ers' visit to the Cowboys - the most anticipated game of Super Wild Card Weekend - we'll continue our habit of looking to famous local musicians for inspiration, even if Dallas native Michael Lee Aday isn't a household name.

"Bat Out Of Hell"

Few defenders in the NFL want a piece of TyShun Samuel. More commonly known as "Deebo," the 49ers' hybrid running back/receiver is a dual threat in the same vein as Aday; the singer/actor better recognized as Meat Loaf is renowned - like Samuel - for powerful physical performances.

A combined yardage prop would be the ideal way to bet Samuel and his versatility, but I'm expecting this game to be a track meet featuring several big downfield plays from each team. While the 49ers will happily toss the ball to Samuel in the run game, Jimmy Garoppolo can also target his top weapon in open space in the middle of the field, allowing him to weave through the Cowboys' secondary like a "Bat Out of Hell."

Pick: Samuel over 64.5 receiving yards

A TD that's definitely going to happen

Like Meat Loaf's performance in the 1999 film "Fight Club," Samuel's receiving yardage is being slept on. But -115 is a pretty price to bet that he scores. Fortunately, San Francisco has another major weapon that can be dangerous at any time - and that weapon is priced at something of a discount.

George Kittle's six touchdowns in 14 games suggest a 43% chance he scores in any given contest, which is only a slight value on the 40% implied by the current price. But it's been a while since the Cowboys faced a premier tight end.

The last top tight end Dallas saw was Darren Waller, who exited in the first half of the Cowboys' Thanksgiving Day clash with the Raiders. Here's how Dallas did against top-15 teams at the position before that game:

GAME	PLAYER	STATS
@ TB	Rob Gronkowski	8 recs / 90 yards / 2 TD
vs. PHI	Zach Ertz + Dallas Goedert	6 recs / 119 yards / TD
vs. ATL	Kyle Pitts	4 recs / 60 yards
@ KC	Travis Kelce	5 recs / 74 yards

Pitts didn't find the end zone for the Falcons in a blowout loss, but that was par for the course in a season that saw the rookie rack up yards while scoring just once. Kelce got his usual work in during the Chiefs' 19-9 win and was that game's lone touchdown scorer, taking a direct snap for a 4-yard run.

Desperate for a touchdown and its accompanying affection, Kittle "Would Do Anything For Love," even carrying defenders into the end zone to put points on the board for San Francisco.

Pick: Kittle anytime touchdown (+150)

A TD that probably won't happen ... but maybe it does

Kittle is practically always on the field, playing 94% of the 49ers' offensive snaps. He - along with Samuel - gets primary focus from opposing defenses, which creates opportunities for his teammates.

As San Francisco's second tight end, Charlie Woerner has played just under a quarter of the team's offensive snaps this season. With only five catches on the year, he's the perfect candidate to sneak free undetected in a goal-line situation while others draw attention. At 14-to-1, even one route run in the paint makes it possible to cash this bet, which would feel like "Paradise By The Dashboard Light."

Pick: Woerner anytime touchdown (+1400)

Matt Russell is a betting writer for theScore. If there's a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on Twitter @mrussauthentic.

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