https://www.sfgate.com/49ers/article/49ers-Ravens-betting-underdog-spread-NFL-Vegas-14864158.php
By Grant Marek, SFGATE
Published-
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (85) celebrates after scoring against the Green Bay Packers during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
lessPhoto: Tony Avelar, Associated PressSan Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (85) celebrates after scoring against the Green Bay Packers during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019. (AP
... more
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (85) celebrates after scoring against the Green Bay Packers during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
lessSan Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (85) celebrates after scoring against the Green Bay Packers during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019. (AP
... moreLooks like you can add Vegas to the list of 49ers doubters this season.
Even after a 10-1 start to the 2019 season that has seen the Niners silence critic after critic, they opened as a five-point underdog against the Ravens in Baltimore at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 1.
Baltimore has been one of the hottest teams in the NFL, winners of seven straight, and home to the possible leading candidate for NFL MVP: Lamar Jackson. Jackson has thrown 24 touchdowns to just five interceptions this season, and has run for six more scores on the ground. He’s been electric as the Ravens have rattled off wins against the likes of the previously undefeated Patriots, the Seahawks — who handed the 49ers their only loss of the season — and the Rams, which took one on the absolute chin on Monday night, getting routed 45-6 at home.
The 49ers, meanwhile, enter Week 13 having just stuck it to the two-loss Green Bay Packers at home, 37-8. The defense was masterful in shutting down Aaron Rodgers and the Packers offense, and Jimmy Garoppolo finished with a perfect QB rating, throwing for 253 yards and two scores.
The last team to start the season 10-1 and enter Week 13 as an underdog? The 2007 Green Bay Packers versus the Dallas Cowboys, who were also 10-1 entering the affair.
The Packers lost that matchup 37-27 and didn’t cover the spread (+7).
Grant Marek is the Editorial Director of SFGATE. Email: grant.marek@sfgate.com | Twitter: @grant_marek