NFL: Harbaugh Bowl Pits Ravens Against 49ers

Only one brother gets to bring home the big turkey leg tonight. Will it be Jim Harbaugh’s 49ers or John Harbaugh’s Ravens that come out on top in primetime? Al Dannity breaks down a game that is going to get personal.

Reclamation Inc.
Jim Harbaugh is the rising star in coaching circles for a reason. He turned Stanford from a moribund program to a sports betting lock. Now he’s doing the same job in San Francisco with the 49ers. Remember where this team was under Mike Singletary. The 49ers had plenty of talent but an inability to win. Harbaugh has changed the culture of this team.

He’s made Alex Smith into a capable quarterback at this level, a task at which Singletary and Mike Nolan squarely failed. Patrick Willis, Vernon Davis, and Frank Gore are no longer stars on a losing team. Instead they form the core on a franchise that is romping through the NFC West and near certain to earn a bye in the playoffs. That’s a tremendous achievement for a first-year coach, even with San Francisco’s light schedule.

Time for a reality check
Yeah, about that schedule…it’s time to meet the big dogs or big birds in this case. The Ravens have been frustrating all year. Despite owning their divisional opponents on the field, they can’t shake the Steelers and Bengals in the race for the AFC North. Bettors have been frustrated by Baltimore’s 5-4-1 record against the spread. It’s time for the Ravens to assert themselves in the national spotlight. They have a huge opportunity tonight. Ray Rice will like his chances of being the first running back this season to really test the 49ers defense. Throw in Baltimore’s consistency in run defense and the Ravens look set to control this game on the ground.

The verdict
The Ravens need to keep this game focussed around the running game because the 49ers have a huge advantage through the air. Alex Smith is not elite but his less prone to calamities than Joe Flacco. If Tyler Palko’s former back-up can avoid making too many bad throws, the Ravens should be able to grind their way to a home win. If the Ravens are going to win a Super Bowl under John Harbaugh, it won’t be carried by Flacco’s arm. Instead Baltimore will, as ever, lean heavily on the defense. I like the Ravens to come up big tonight and deliver a win for John over Jim in this sibling rivalry.