49ers vs Ravens prediction, picks, spread, betting odds

The final game of the Week 16 schedule might just be the biggest matchup of the entire regular season. In the second game of Monday’s Christmas Day doubleheader, the San Francisco 49ers are set to host the Baltimore Ravens.

It is a potential Super Bowl preview, as both the Ravens (11-3) and 49ers (11-3) currently sit atop their respective conferences. Baltimore must hold off the Miami Dolphins for the No. 1 seed in the AFC, while San Francisco is trying to fend off the Dallas Cowboys for the top spot in the NFC. A win could go a long way in either team doing just that.

The Ravens dropped two of their first five games, but they are honestly just a few plays away from being undefeated this year. Baltimore has played from in front of most of its games, with its losses typically coming in meltdown fashion in the fourth quarter.

As for the 49ers, they are riding a six-game win streak since the bye. The break came at the opportune time, however, as San Francisco had dropped three in a row entering its bye in Week 10.

Not only is this game a potential Super Bowl preview, but it has MVP implications. San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy is currently the betting favorite to win the award, with Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson listed as the No. 2 option in the market. The winner of Monday’s game might just secure this year’s trophy.

Caesars Sportsbook, the official odds partner of Bet.NOLA.com, is giving the edge to the 49ers at home, listing them as 5.5-point favorites with an over/under of 47.

Let’s take a closer look at the odds and trends:

Baltimore Ravens (11-3) at San Francisco 49ers (11-3)

Time/TV: Monday at 7:15 p.m. CT (ABC)

Spread: 49ers -5.5

Over/Under: 47

Moneyline: 49ers -250, Ravens +205

Analysis: There is a chance this total climbs before kickoff and it could prove to be prudent to grab the current line as soon as possible, but we encourage you to shop around for a better angle on this game. The one that jumps out in this case is San Francisco’s team total of 26.5, which has a -115 value on the over.

The 49ers rank third in the league with an average of 30.4 points per game. They have scored at least 27 points in 11 of their 14 games, including each of their last six outings during this win streak since the bye. The only reason these odds appear so favorable is because Baltimore’s defense is one of the best units in the league.

That said, the Ravens did give up 31 points to the Los Angeles Rams two weeks ago and surrendered 33 points to the Cleveland Browns. They clearly struggle with offenses from the Kyle Shanahan tree, which doesn’t bode well this week since he calls plays for the 49ers’ offense.

Caesars offers the best price on the market for San Francisco’s team total, and we should take advantage of this gift on Christmas Day.

Best bet:49ers team total over 26.5 points (-115 via Caesars)