The fact that the Ravens have this game at home with the 49ers making the cross-country trip for a 1 p.m. ET kickoff was the deciding factor for me. I have little doubt Baltimore will win, but I did expect the spread to be a bit closer to 4. Ultimately, though, this pick rests with the Ravens defense, which should be able to stop the 49ers run, force some punts and give Lamar Jackson additional opportunities. We have yet to see San Francisco need to go out and win a game against a team of this caliber, and the one time it was in a similar situation, it lost to Seattle. Nothing against the 49ers here, but the Ravens look unstoppable.

The Ravens have outscored their last three opponents 135-26, and they'll be fired up for this potential Super Bowl preview. Lamar Jackson has accounted for 16 touchdowns and zero interceptions over the last four games. Baltimore won't score a TD on every meaningful possession like it did last week, but the Ravens will at least get into the high 20s. Look for Baltimore's defense to shut down the 49ers' running game, and for Jimmy Garoppolo to make a couple key mistakes. Lay it.

The 49ers went Over the total in four straight games before their Under game against the Packers, but the Packers didn’t help in the 37-8 49ers win. I don’t see a problem with Lamar Jackson getting slowed down, and I know the 49ers will score despite the light rain expected. The Ravens have scored 37 points or more in their last four games. Over is the top play.

Baltimore QB Lamar Jackson, the MVP frontrunner, faces a supreme test. San Francisco not only owns the top-ranked defense but is on pace to permit the fewest passing yards per game in four decades. The Ravens’ defense, having yielded 12.2 points in the last half-dozen outings, will contribute to the Under. Completing the package is the weather forecast: certain rain, which could compromise the electric Jackson’s ability to run on a slippery field. Under is the play.

Lamar Jackson is a supernova, and the Ravens have been the best team in the NFL lately. And all that attention is causing an inflation to this spread. The 49ers aren't 10-1 by accident, and if there's any defense in the NFL that can at least limit Lamar Jackson, it's this Niners unit. Take the points.

Everyone talks about QB Lamar Jackson and the Ravens' offense, wondering how they can be stopped. But no one is mentioning how dominant Baltimore's defense has been. Look for that unit to be the reason why the Ravens extend their winning streak to eight games with a comfortable victory.