The SanFrancisco 49ers are ready to kick off the 2007 season against the Arizona Cardinals tonight on Monday Night Football.  Look for the niners to try to get Frank Gore started early in the ballgame and control the line of scrimmage.  It will be a long night for the Cardinals if Gore and company can control the line of scrimmage and move the ball on the ground.  If the the laners are open up for Gore on running plays, it will also open up the passing plays for Alex Smith and the receivers.

I expect a big night out of Smith against this Cardinals defense.  Atleast two touchdowns and 225 yards passing.  I also expect Gore to run for 90-100 yards and a touchdown on the ground and possibly one through the air.

The 49ers defense will rely on the defensive backs to cover the receiving corps of the Cardinals.  Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Bolden should get the ball thrown to them plenty of times.  As long as our secondary doesn’t bite on the play action passes I think we will be ok.

The Cardinals are going to depend on Edgerrin James to carry the load for them at the running back spot.  He will try to pound it between the tackles and that could be trouble for the niners are they are pretty small on the line and don’t have a true nose tackle for their 3-4 defense.  Patrick Willis will need to cheat towards the line to get James before he reaches the linebackers and secondary.

My prediction:  49ers 27 Cardianals 20