The last game of Week 16 could be a defensive battle between the Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers. While that is less than ideal for exciting football, we’re also talking about two of the top five offenses in the NFL, so we should still see some touchdowns scored in this game.
Ahead of the final Christmas Day Ravens vs. 49ers game, our NFL betting experts give their top touchdown scorer bets to round out Week 16.
Baltimore Ravens vs. San Francisco 49ers Touchdown Scorer Bets
Lamar Jackson (+185 at FanDuel)
Kyle Soppe: The spread in this game suggests that the Ravens will be playing from behind.
Combine that with the loss of their starting running back and a 49ers defense that easily owns the highest opponent pass rate over expectation rate in the league this season, and it’s not hard to see Lamar Jackson dropping back in access of 40 times in this spot.
Give me an athlete like Jackson with the ball in his hands with regularity, and I’ll take my chances. All five of his rushing scores this season have come from 10 yards or closer, so while he may be slight in build, he’s still capable of picking up those tough yards near the end zone.
We get a reasonable price thanks to the opponent and the rare underdog spot for the Ravens — I’m happy to pounce!
Gus Edwards (+148 at ESPN BET)
Ben Rolfe:Â Tonight’s game will see two good defenses go head to head, and that’s a problem when it comes to finding players who could score touchdowns.
When you compare touchdowns allowed by both defenses to various positions, the most this season is the 49ers against wide receivers (12) and the 49ers against running backs (eight).
Gus Edwards found his way back into the end zone last week after a two-game absence. Additionally, with Keaton Mitchell now out for the season, it should be the Gus Bus Show for Baltimore. Justice Hill is not a player we regularly see the Ravens lean on, and Melvin Gordon III is not the player he once was.
If the Ravens get down to the goal line, they lean on the bus. That shouldn’t change this week.
San Francisco’s defense is by no means susceptible to the run game, but with Arik Armstead out and Javon Hargrave potentially playing injured, let’s back Edwards to make an impact.
Deebo Samuel (+107 at ESPN BET)
Rolfe:Â Baltimore’s defense has been remarkably good at preventing other teams from finding the end zone this season. No team has allowed fewer points, fewer passing touchdowns, or fewer rushing touchdowns.
There is a part of me that wanted to bite at the tempting +175 odds for Christian McCaffrey not to score this week. However, I found a less negative way of pivoting off of him finding the end zone.
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I fully expect the Ravens to key in on McCaffrey down in the red zone, which could open other opportunities. George Kittle at +165 is tempting, but ultimately, I’m going for the do-it-all gadget option Deebo Samuel.
If Baltimore focuses on McCaffrey, it could open opportunities for Samuel on a sweep, a reverse, or a screen to get some room to score. The odds are just about good enough to where I will back a player who has scored in each of the last four and seven of his 12 games this year.
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