ExtremeRavens Posted September 27 Posted September 27 With the reigning and two-time NFL Most Valuable Player Lamar Jackson at quarterback, the Ravens play few games absent a national spotlight. That’s especially true in the early stages of the 2024 season. Baltimore (1-2) opened the season Thursday night, earning a prime-time slot for a game against the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs. In Week 3, Baltimore faced the Cowboys in “America’s Game of the Week” on Fox. This Sunday, the Ravens take center stage again when Jackson’s Ravens host Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills for “Sunday Night Football” on NBC. “Probably, right now, the top football team in the National Football League,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said of the Bills. “That’s what everybody says, and you sure see it on tape.” The Ravens are 1-1 in their two highly anticipated games this fall, winning 28-25 as a small betting favorite against the Cowboys and losing 27-20 as a small underdog against the Chiefs. Sunday’s game against Buffalo could be the toughest test yet. Buffalo is not only 3-0, but the Bills also own the NFL’s best point differential at plus-64. Despite Buffalo’s hot start, oddsmakers give Jackson and Baltimore a small edge over the undefeated visitors. Baltimore sits as a 2 1/2-point favorite across most sportsbooks legally available in Maryland, including DraftKings and FanDuel. If the line closes with Baltimore favored, it’ll be the third time this season the Ravens are betting favorites. It’s the second time Buffalo is an underdog, as the Bills beat Miami, 31-10, earlier this season also as a 2 1/2-point underdog. The total for the game sits at 46 1/2 points across most betting platforms. Baltimore’s first three games of the season have all had at least 47 combined points scored, and all three of its totals have gone over in 2024. The Ravens are a -130 moneyline favorite on BetMGM and DraftKings, meaning bettors need to wager $130 on the Ravens to win for a $100 profit. Ravens vs. Bills best bet Harbaugh has spent much of the past two weeks answering questions about his team’s sluggish finishes. Why is the team collapsing late in games? In Week 2, Baltimore coughed up a double-digit lead to the mediocre Raiders. The loss sent Baltimore to 0-2, although it bounced back with a win over Dallas. Still, that game wasn’t without late-game shenanigans. The Ravens’ dominant defense stopped covering receivers, and the offense went cold. A 28-6 lead turned to a 28-25 win. With Baltimore’s fourth-quarter performance an ongoing mystery, take the Ravens to cover -1 1/2 points in the first half. The wager holds +105 odds on FanDuel, and it means backing a historically great first-half quarterback. Jackson is 52-32-1 against the first-half spread in his NFL, according to the Action Network. Among 260 quarterbacks over the past 20 years, Jackson has the best first-half ATS record of any of them. “He’s really changed the way that guys play the game,” Allen, who finished fifth in MVP voting in 2023, said earlier this week. The Bills and Ravens are among the AFC’s best teams, and Sunday’s battle should be competitive. Buffalo is a little overrated after wins over the Cardinals, Dolphins and Jaguars, while Baltimore is still underrated because of its collapse against Las Vegas. Jackson is 6-1 in his career on “Sunday Night Football,” and the Ravens should start fast against the Bills. As for the finish, it’s hard to say just how Baltimore will close a game these days. Best bet: Ravens -1 1/2 in the first half (+105 odds on FanDuel) View the full article Quote
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