Christmas Day is the time for gift-giving, and the NFL is rewarding football fans with one of the best matchups this season. The Baltimore Ravens are traveling to Santa Clara tonight to face the San Francisco 49ers. Both teams are the number-one seeds in their respective conferences and radiated Super Bowl vibes throughout this season.
The top sports gambling apps believe the 49ers are a 6-point favorite tonight at Levi's Stadium. Both teams have lost 3 games each so far in the season but are entering this clash with winning streaks. The 49ers are undefeated in their last 6 matchups, while the Ravens have won 4 straight games. Let’s preview one of the most exciting matchups for Monday Night football in 2023.
The 49ers Have a Pro Bowl Caliber Team
Mr. Irrelevant, as quarterback Brock Purdy is known for being the last pick in the 2022 draft, is becoming very relevant and is one of the names floated in the MVP conversation. Purdy averages 271.1 passing yards per game and is responsible for 29 passing touchdowns.
The starting quarterback for the 49ers completes 69.8% of his passes and is blessed with a talented receiving group led by George Kittle, Deebo Samuel, and Brandon Aiyuk. One of the most potent weapons on offense is RB Christian McCaffery, averaging 92.3 rushing yards per game, with 13 TDs on the ground and 7 receiving TDs.
The high-power offense ranks 3rd in the league for scoring with 30.4 points per contest. The defense is even better ranked, occupying the 2nd spot in the NFL for points allowed with 16.7 points per game. Nick Bosa and Chase Young are one of the best pass rushing duo in the league, creating pressure from both flanks of an opponent's offensive line.
Ravens Battle Injuries
The Ravens will play their last road game, and a win in Santa Clara can solidify their hold on the first seed in the AFC. Injuries are a big problem for the Ravens, with TE Mark Andrews and RB J.K. Dobbins out for the year, while WR Odell Beckham Jr. is questionable due to an illness. The injury situation leaves a lot on the plate for quarterback Lamar Jackson, who is having a solid season, averaging 221.8 passing yards per game.
Jackson has 17 touchdowns with 7 interceptions and curiously is behind Brock Purdy in the MVP odds race. Lamar played the Jaguars last week without two of his best weapons, and still threw for 171 yards and rushed for 97 yards. Baltimore scores 27.4 points per game and allows 16.1 points per game. Although Jackson will feel the 49ers pass rush, the Ravens can go after Purdy with defensive tackle Justin Madubuike, who leads the team in 12 sacks.
Betting Prediction
The Ravens have been a favorite in 15 out of 16 games this season, and they won the game played as an underdog against the Bengals. For tonight's game, the best free betting sites offer +215 odds on a Ravens moneyline bet, and -265 odds for the same bet on the 49ers.
The 49ers are not unbeatable, and the 6-point spread might be too high, but the best bets football odds are -108 for the 49ers to cover and -112 odds for the Ravens to cover. The total is 46.5 points with -112 odds for the Over and -108 odds for the Under bet. Both teams have great scoring offenses and scoring defenses, making for an interesting matchup.
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