The showdown between the San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens is the most anticipated game of Week 13, and there’s nothing anyone could say that will convince people that there’s another. It’s Lamar Jackson against the Niners’ defense. It’s the AFC’s best team (arguably) against the best of the NFC. This could be a preview of Super Bowl 54 even. The 49ers and the Ravens are +600 and +275 to win Super Bowl 54, respectively.
Perhaps the strongest case anyone can make about how good the 49ers’ defense is this season was the team’s annihilation of the Green Bay Packers last Sunday in which they made Aaron Rodgers look like a backup. The 49ers choked every entry point of the Packers’ offense, allowing just 198 total yards, including just 81 through the air. Rodgers was sacked five times for a loss of 38 yards, adding more evidence to how tough San Francisco’s stop unit really is. The Niners will have their hands full in stopping Lamar Jackson, but having Nick Bosa upfront and Richard Sherman downfield are big hurdles for the Ravens’ quarterback. Moreover, Bosa leads the Niners’ pass rush that has the most sacks in the NFL with 44 quarterback takedowns. The 49ers are second in the league with 14.8 points allowed per game and are no. 1 overall with 248.0 total yards surrendered per contest.
The 49ers are 3-2 against the spread (ATS) in their last five road games.
Betting on the Baltimore Ravens (9-2)
The Ravens are fortunate Lamar Jackson did not convert into either a wide receiver or a running back. Jackson was like a tornado in Week 12, amassing a total of five passing touchdowns with zero interceptions on 15-of-20 completions in a 45-6 win over the Los Angeles Rams on the road. There was nothing the Ravens could do to stop Jackson — the same Rams that has Aaron Donald, arguably the best defensive player in the league today. Jackson also rushed for 95 yards, which were more than all of the Rams had combined. The Ravens’ offense were so effective that they only punted once and were an unholy 9 for 15 on third-down situations. The 49ers have never seen an offense like what the Ravens will present to them, so it’s possible for San Francisco to get exposed — again. The Niners got stunned by the Seattle Seahawks in Week 10 with another MVP contender in Russell Wilson leading the winning side.
The Ravens are 2-0 ATS in their last two home games.
