Point spread: Ravens vs. Chargers, 49ers vs. Cardinals

The point spread and odds preview of the Week 12 football games Baltimore Ravens vs. San Diego Chargers and San Francisco 49ers vs. Arizona Cardinals.

Point spread: Ravens vs. Chargers, 49ers vs. Cardinals As we move towards the end of the football season, the point spread numbers will get bigger and bigger. This is the case with the next two NFL games we will take a look at. First comes the Sunday match-up between the Baltimore Ravens (4-6) and the San Diego Chargers (5-5). When these two teams met last year, the Ravens won the game 16-13, but this season things are looking grim for Baltimore. At the online bookmaker Bodog Sports, the point spread for the Baltimore Ravens vs. San Diego Chargers is posted at -10 points chalk the Chargers and the bookie has made San Diego odds favorite at -480, while the Ravens will be heavy underdog with money line at +340. Consider that Baltimore is 1-10 against the spread in its last 11 games and San Diego is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games.

Chargers will have the chance to take on the injury-plagued Baltimore at home and continue to stay atop the AFC West, tied currently with the Broncos. Statistically the Ravens have a good chance against San Diego, both teams with almost equal yards at the offensive end, but Baltimore leading in defense with only 287.3 yards allowed per game, compared to the Chargers with 353.7 yards allowed on average. But a long list of injuries at Baltimore could help the Chargers cover the -10 points spread this weekend. While San Diego is healthy, the Ravens will play without quarterback Steve McNair and wide receiver Demetrius Williams. Although CBs Samari Rolle and Jamaine Winborne were upgraded to probable, DT Justin Bannan, CB Chris McAlister, TE Daniel Wilcox and the safeties Gerome Sapp and Ed Reed remain questionable for the game against the San Diego Chargers. The Baltimore Ravens are on their 4-game losing streak and there is little doubt that they will be able to break out of it in Week 12.

The football game between the San Francisco 49ers (2-8) and the Arizona Cardinals (5-5) is another double-digit-spreader. When the two teams met this season in the September opener, the 49ers won the game 20-17, but the bookies give San Francisco no chance this weekend. The point spread on the San Francisco 49ers vs. Arizona Cardinals is currently sitting at -11 points chalk the Cardinals at the betting website Bodog Sports, while betting trends indicate that San Francisco is 0-5 against the spread in its last 5 games and Arizona is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games at home.

The home win against the Lions couple of weeks back gave the Arizona Cardinals the boost they needed to re-launch their bid for the NFC West and they have a good chance, trailing a game behind the Seahawks. The Cardinals won on the road last week against the Bengals 35-27 and the 49ers naturally lost against the Rams 13-9. Most of the Arizona personnel has been upgraded to probable for the Week 12 game, including quarterback Kurt Warner and defensive end Antonio Smith, but doubtful remain wide receiver Jerheme Urban and safeties Aaron Francisco and Adrian Wilson. At San Francisco, quarterback Alex Smith will rest due to injury and will likely be replaced by Trent Dilfer. Running back Frank Gore and wide receiver Ashley Lelie, however, were upgraded to probable. Despite that, the Cardinals should have no problem covering the -11 points spread this Sunday.

Published on 11/24/2007