Each week I canvas a number of wagering establishments to best gauge where the money is on various games to see where the public is drawn and what games are attracting wise guy money. One of my favorite sports book professionals is Jim O’Leary, he is employed at the Peppermill in Reno.

This week, on Friday night, Jim pointed out how onesided the games are this week. “They know who they like this weekend,” he said while reviewing the wagering numbers. “I hope we beat them in at least a couple spots or we’ll take a beating.”

A person on that side of the betting counter worried about taking a beating is usually wasted effort. They take a beating only a little more often than it snows in San Francisco.

It was that way this weekend too. On Saturday, the public was backing the two favorites at approximately 8 to l. The public got crushed twice as the underdog Pittsburgh Steelers and Los Angeles Chargers got a straight-up and point spread win over the Cincinnati Bengals and Buffalo Bills respectively.

The public was also backing the Broncos over the Patriots in last night’s game, by a gaudy number of 12 to 1. The biggest margin was the public’s choice of the Green Bay Packers to cover the number over the Carolina Panthers and the Seattle Seahawks to win by more than a field goal in Tennessee.

The books won all those games.

So, for a weekend that began with the books losing both the game and total in the Los Angeles Rams victory over the New Orleans Saints, the public needs Philadelphia to cover against the Giants this afternoon and the 49ers to beat the spread versus the Baltimore Ravens tonight.

I think they'll get them while laying the big numbers.

When the public lines up on average or below average teams, like the Broncos and Packers, they usually have trouble. But their sweet spot is when they take a quality team, like the Eagles or 49ers.

Now, by our numbers, the best play today is the 49ers.

Why?

Because they are playing another quality team, the Baltimore Ravens, and why else would the 49ers be such a heavy favorite by the books if they weren’t going to win and cover.

At least, that’s the way I see it.

Qoxhi Picks: San Francisco 49ers (-6½) over Baltimore Ravens