Ravens vs 49ers Free Pick: NFL Week 12 Betting Tips

This is an intriguing match-up as the San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens are the leaders in the NFC West and AFC North respectively. We see the Niners getting somewhat exposed in this contest!

>>> Bet On The NFL At TopBet <<<

Kickoff, for the Thanksgiving Day finale, is slated for 8:20 PM ET on Thursday, November 24, 2011, from M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland.

49ers @ Ravens: NFL Week 12 Game Day Preview

Baltimore (7-3 Home 5-0) puts their seven game home undefeated streak on the line tonight. As erratic as the Ravens have been on the road, they have been rock solid in the friendly confines of M&T Bank Stadium. The Ravens have won three of four, including a 31-24 Week 11 win on the road in Cincinnati over the Bengals. Baltimore leads the AFC North by a tie-breaker over Pittsburgh.

San Francisco ((9-1 Road 4-0) has been the surprise team of the NFL season. The 49ers have won eight straight games, including four road contests – on the east coast. San Francisco is coming off a 23-7 Week 12 home win over the Arizona Cardinals. These aren’t your Joe Montana 49ers but they are getting it done. The Niners need just two wins to clinch the NFC West.

NFL Thursday Night Betting Odds: Ravens vs. 49ers Free Pick

This line opened with Ravens as a -3 point home favorite. It has moved to -3.5 at many online sports betting websites. The Sportsbook at TopBet.com has keep steady, with their field goal line, and those are the odds we are using for our Ravens vs. 49ers Free Pick tonight.

Even though they played at home for two straight weeks, logging all those previous cross country miles is going to catch up to the Niners eventually. We think eventually is tonight as the 49ers are traveling on very short rest. It can be argued that the Ravens are working on a short week as well, but they have been home for eleven days now.

Amazingly, the Niners are the only team in the NFL that has not allowed a rushing TD this season. That could change today as they haven’t faced a running back like Ray Rice yet this season. Rice is a threat in the Ravens running and passing game. Against two TE sets, the Niners won’t be able to fill the box and load up against the run.

Baltimore could be without All World linebacker Ray Lewis tonight but the Ravens are still one of the better defensive units in the league. If they can pressure 49ers QB Alex Smith into mistakes, this could turn very ugly, very fast. Dating back to last season, with QB Joe Flacco under center, six of the Ravens seven straight home wins have been decided by six points or more.

Knowing they will have nine days off in between games, followed by match-ups against the lowly Rams and Cardinals, the Niners could fade a little in this one. Baltimore needs this win knowing the Steelers are going to pound the Chiefs during Week 12 action on Sunday.

We’ll roll with the Ravens to finish off our NFL 2011 Week 12 Thanksgiving Day football feast!

>>> Back BAL over SF at -3 (-130) with the TopBet Point Spread <<<