SUNDAY (6PM): bal @ SF

GAME CHART
10-6 (4-4 away)	bal		@		SF		11-4-1 (6-1-1 home)
avg DEF ppg		21.5		24.8		avg OFF ppg
avg OFF ppg		24.9		17.1		avg DEF ppg
pass DEF rank		17th		23rd		pass OFF rank
rush DEF rank		20th		4th		rush OFF rank
pass OFF rank		15th		4th		pass DEF rank
rush OFF rank		11th		4th		rush DEF rank
defensive formation		3-4		3-4		defensive formation
none		key injuries				none
FORECAST
N/A
STAT ALERT
-   9 of the last 15 Super Bowls have been decided by a single possession - BAL QB Flacco has 8 TD, 0 INT in the 2012-13 playoffs - SF defence allowing 28.8 PPG to opponents in their last 5 contests
ANALYST INSIGHT
While I do think the Ravens are playing their best football at the right time, I simply don’t see them as better than the 49ers on either side of the ball…I do expect Baltimore to have a decided special-teams advantage in this game, but I don’t think that’s going to produce enough game-changing plays to make the difference. The 49ers are the better team, and they’ll hoist the Lombardi Trophy on Sunday night – M.D. SMITH The 49ers are the better team on paper.  But the Broncos and the Patriots were the better teams on paper, too.  And the Ravens just keep winning.  The offense has improved, and the 49ers pass defense has dipped in recent weeks, with a less potent rush and safeties who seem to get caught flat-footed all too often…there’s something about the Ravens this year, between the impact of Ray Lewis and the emergence of Joe Flacco…In the end, there’s a good chance that each Harbaugh brother will get a ring.  For now, the first-born son (Ravens head coach) becomes the first one to hoist the trophy – M. FLORIO Baltimore has been building to this moment for a while under John Harbaugh, and its experience will help it to steal the game late – V. IYER
FINAL PREDICTION
BAL		SU		vs SPR		BAL (+4.0)
If the NFL playoffs of 2012-13 have demonstrated anything it is that this season’s postseason pilgrimage is much more about timeliness and momentum than it is about hard numbers and steady handedness.  The 49ers are the superior club in this contest, a fact that can hardly be refuted given their allotted four-pt spread by Vegas oddsmakers. Regardless, Baltimore is playing like a team possessed of late, one that has knocked off previous Super Bowl MVP QBs Tom Brady & Peyton Manning in consecutive weeks and have displayed little to no signs of slowing on their brazen path towards the Lombardi Trophy. With a FGM+ spread to their name and a minimally experienced, albeit supremely talent young Quarterback under Center, expect the Niners to slug this match out to the bitter end. Sadly for SF, that’s just where the Ravens have shone brightest this postseason.

	Pro*Line #	avg @road	prediction	QB	prediction	avg @road	Pro*Line #
Flacco	21.5	19.6	UNDER		UNDER	17.5	17.5	Kaepernick
	Pro*Line #	avg @road	prediction	RB	prediction	avg @road	Pro*Line #
Rice	73.5	85.6	OVER		OVER	68.3	88.5	Gore
	Pro*Line #	avg @road	prediction	WR	prediction	avg @road	Pro*Line #
Boldin	4.5	3.9	OVER		OVER	5.1	6.5	Crabtree

avg sacks		prediction	SACKS (PRO*LINE #)	prediction	avg sacks
2.2		UNDER	4.5	UNDER	1.8
season total		prediction	FUMBLES (PRO*LINE #)	prediction	season total
5		OVER	1.5	OVER	8
season total 40+		prediction	LONG PASS (PRO*LINE #)	prediction	season total 40+
12		OVER	48.5	OVER	8
season total 20+		prediction	LONG RUSH (PRO*LINE #)	prediction	season total 20+
10		OVER	28.5	OVER	17
season total 50+	season total 40-49	prediction	LONG FGM (PRO*LINE #)	prediction	season total 40-49	season total 50+
4-4	10-13	OVER	45.5	OVER	7-13	2-6
avg yds PTR		prediction	LONG PTR (PRO*LINE #)	prediction	avg yds PTR
7.8		OVER	17.5	OVER	6.7
avg half		prediction	1ST HALF (PRO*LINE #)	prediction	avg half
12.5		UNDER	23.5	UNDER	12.4
avg half		prediction	2ND HALF (PRO*LINE #)	prediction	avg half
12.5		OVER	23.5	OVER	12.4