The Baltimore Ravens enter Week 14 on an eight-game winning streak when they take on the Buffalo Bills. As has been the case for the Ravens a lot in recent weeks, it is another potential playoff preview with implications on what seeds teams could get.
Baltimore is 10-2 on the season, but for some people out there, the record is irrelevant. Some want to know one thing, and one thing only: are the Ravens covering the spread this week?
While not still legal yet in Maryland, sports betting is big in the NFL. Whether it’s fantasy football, betting the spread or the over/under on how many rushing yards for Lamar Jackson, a ton of money is being wagered on football.
So who to ask about your picks than the guys who follow the Ravens most? Each week, we’ll give an against the spread (ATS) pick, as well as some game props for the game. Continue on for the best bets of Week 14 against the Bills.
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ATS Pick: Ravens -5.5
One would think it is hard to bet against Buffalo with Bills Mafia behind them, but all three games they did not cover were at home. Two of those games really stick out as they failed to go over the spread against the Bengals and Dolphins. The Bills are 8-3-1 ATS on the season.
Baltimore is 6-5-1 ATS after failing to cover the same spread against the 49ers. They had covered five straight games leading up to last week, which is no surprise considering how they have been blowing out teams recently.
The key in this game is the Ravens are also a covering machine on the road. Baltimore is 4-1 ATS on the road this season and 14-5 ATS away from home over the last three seasons. Buffalo is not the team to slow down this train if history is our example.
Over 43.5 Points
The Bills defense basically mirrors the 49ers. Buffalo is currently No. 3 in passing and total defense, while the middle of the pack (15th) in rushing defense. It spells bad news going against the Ravens top-ranked rushing attack.
It was not your usual five-touchdown performance in Week 13, but Jackson was still able to put up enough points despite heavy rain most of the night. It is typically cold and we have already seen snow in a New York game this year, but it looks as though it’ll be around 45 degrees with no precipitation expected at gametime Sunday, according to The Weather Channel. It’ll be perfect weather for pounding the football against the Bills’ more porous run defense.
The 20 points scored last week were the lowest of the season for the Ravens. The three weeks leading up to this game, Baltimore scored 41 or more in each game by themselves. Not saying they will hit 40-plus points again, but they should definitely score enough for this to go over the total.
Ravens Over 24.5 Points: EVEN
Basically repeating everything said in the last slide. Baltimore is the only team in the NFL averaging more than 30 points per game (33.8). They have the league MVP, the best rushing offense by a long shot and automatic points every time kicker Justin Tucker takes the field.
The Bills defense has been shutting down opposing offenses, with only one game that went over 21 points this year. Buffalo held the Cowboys, the NFL’s top offense, to just 15 points in Dallas last week on Thanksgiving. The Cowboys have been one of the biggest flukes in football as their No. 1 offense is not translating into wins.
The Ravens score points in bunches and it is not stopping this week. Jackson will make another statement in his MVP campaign and Baltimore goes over 30 points once again.
Ravens Over 2.5 Touchdowns: -139
Go all-in on the Ravens’ offense here. The only way they are hitting the previous two totals is if they score three touchdowns. The weather played an important part in Baltimore being limited to just two scores last week.
Buffalo feels they have a defense similar to the 49ers and they’ll be able to limit the Ravens in much the same way. Bills defensive tackle Jordan Phillips is on record saying they’re “built for an offense like this,” according to John Wawrow of the Associated Press. The Seahawks, Patriots, Texans and Rams all supposedly had defenses capable of stopping the Ravens too and by the end of each game, they all knew better. Baltimore had outscored opponents 202-62 in the five games leading up to the matchup against the 49ers.
Baltimore will go into this game focused after one of their worst offensive showings of the year.
