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It’s as close to a Super Bowl preview as possible (and a rematch of Super Bowl XLVII), a pair of 11-3 teams in the finale of the NFL’s Christmas tripleheader. The AFC-leading Baltimore Ravens travel to Santa Clara to meet the NFC-best San Francisco 49ers.
Baltimore has sandwiched a pair of four-game winning streak around a two-point home loss to the Cleveland Browns. It was a 23-7 win over the Jaguars in Jacksonville last Sunday, Baltimore breaking open a tight game with 13 unanswered points in the final quarter.
Meanwhile, after an uncharacteristic (injury-affected) three-game losing skid, San Francisco rebounded with six facile wins in a row (margins of victory 31, 13, 18, 23, 12 and 16 points).
The teams rank third (San Francisco 30.4 points/game) and fourth (Baltimore 27.4) in scoring, first (Baltimore 16.1 points/game) and second (San Francisco 16.7), respectively, in defense.
San Francisco is a 5½-point favorite (total at 47), according to NFL odds.
Moneyline is 49ers -230, Ravens at +190.
Baltimore is leading the all-time series (including that 34-31 Supe win), 5-2.
Run, Ravens, Run
There’s no doubt the NFL has become a passing league, but don’t mention that to the Baltimore Ravens. Baltimore is far and away the best rushing team (163.8 yards per game) in the league.
Quarterback Lamar Jackson (747 yards, 5½ yards/carry) leads, while Gus Edwards (663 yards) has 11 of the team’s 23 ground touchdowns.
Let’s not gloss over Jackson’s (3,107 passing yards, 17 touchdowns, seven interceptions) “other” numbers, though with a run game so prolific, he’s not apt to throw as often.
Rookie wideout Zay Flowers (65 receptions, 680 yards, three touchdowns) has become the target of choice.
Defensively, only the Cleveland Browns surrender fewer yards (261.1 to 287.9) than Baltimore.
49ers are Loaded
The San Francisco 49ers have as much in the arsenal as any team in the NFL, ranking second to the Miami Dolphins (414.1 yards/game to 402.6) in offense.
There’s also tremendous balance (262.6 passing yards/game [second], 139.9 rushing yards/ game [third]), so the opposing defenses can’t cheat.
Quarterback Brock Purdy (3,795 passing yards, 29 touchdowns, seven interceptions) is “fighting” with his own teammate, running back Christian McCaffrey (1,292 yards, 13 touchdowns, 57 receptions, seven receiving touchdowns) when it comes to best player in the league (and don’t forget about that aforementioned Lamar Jackson guy).
Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (59 receptions, 1,090 yards, six touchdowns) has five 100–yard games this season, while Deebo Samuel has five touchdowns in the last three.
There’a a ballhawking defense which averages 1.8 turnovers/game (T-1st with Jacksnnville).
Poinsettia the Points
The two choices to win the title, San Francisco at 2-1 (+200), Baltimore at 11-2 (+550), as per Super Bowl LVIII odds.
Baltimore’s been remarkable during this run, with Lamar Jackson making play after play.
However, San Francisco has barely broken a sweat in winning its last half-dozen, plus the 49ers are at home.
With a number that seems a bit high considering how well the visitors have taken care of business, taking the points here is the way to go.
Thus, the Baltimore Ravens -5½ is the nod with the nog, Go under, too.
Ravens vs 49ers Predictions | NFL Monday Night Football Week 16 Game Ana... @BetUS_Official https://t.co/ymIsUAMJDn via @YouTube
— gambling911 (@gambling911) December 21, 2023
- Tyrone Black, Gambling911.com
