A sampling of predictions for Saturday's NFC divisional playoff game between the 49ers and Saints:

• 49ERS 26, SAINTS 24

Matthew Barrows, The Bee

The 49ers might give up a lot of yards, but they'll keep the Saints out of the end zone … some of the time. A David Akers game-winning field goal as time expires feels right for this 49ers team.

• SAINTS 28, 49ERS 17

Ailene Voisin, The Bee

Unless Drew Brees suffers one of those rare outings where he gets picked early and often, the Saints' offense is too much for a 49ers team no one expected to see playing in mid-January.

• 49ERS 26, SAINTS 24

Matt Kawahara, The Bee

Spirits of '81 loom, altering the course of a few Brees passes. Frank Gore puts the 49ers on his back; Akers puts them on his leg.

• 49ERS 23, SAINTS 20

Marcos Breton, The Bee

Akers kicks three field goals, the 49ers' defense scores one touchdown, Alex Smith scores one touchdown, and the Saints equal their fewest points all season.

• SAINTS 31, 49ERS 16

Tom Couzens, The Bee

New Orleans' offense is simply too much to handle; the 49ers' only touchdown comes on defense.

• 49ERS 24, SAINTS 21

Victor Contreras, The Bee

Thirty years after "The Catch," this game – heck, this season – has all the makings of one our children will talk about for the next 30 years.

• SAINTS 23, 49ERS 17

Ron Kroichick, San Francisco Chronicle

A lack of dynamic offense hurts the 49ers in the end.

• SAINTS 28, 49ERS 22

Eric Branch, San Francisco Chronicle

That's four touchdowns for Brees and five field goals for Akers.

• 49ERS 24, SAINTS 20

Matt Maiocco, CSNBayArea.com

New Orleans was my preseason Super Bowl pick, but the 49ers' well-rounded game will give them fits all day.

• 49ERS 23, SAINTS 20

Dan Brown, San Jose Mercury News

I have no idea how the 49ers will score 23 points, but it'll likely involve a turnover, terrific special-teams play and a defensive lapse that lets Vernon Davis roam free.

• 49ERS 24, SAINTS 23

Tim Kawakami, San Jose Mercury News

On real grass, outdoors, turnovers will decide this game, and the Saints are more likely to suffer them.

• SAINTS 27, 49ERS 20

Mike Triplett, N.O. Times-Picayune

This will be the toughest D the Saints have faced all season, and they aren't as dominant on the road. But I'm still not going to bet against this offense.

• SAINTS 28, 49ERS 24

James Varney, N.O. Times-Picayune

It will take a near-heroic effort by the 49ers to hold New Orleans under 30 points, but even then I don't see the 49ers approaching that benchmark themselves.

• SAINTS 24, 49ERS 23

Jeff Duncan, N.O. Times-Picayune

It should come down to the fourth quarter, and I like Brees in that situation.

• SAINTS 24, 49ERS 19

Sheldon Mickles, Baton Rouge (La.) Advocate

The Saints' high-powered offense might struggle a bit against the 49ers' stout defense. The Saints, however, eventually will get the job done.

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