ExtremeRavens Posted January 2 Posted January 2 When the Ravens started the season 0-2, there were questions about whether the franchise should panic. The general consensus from reasonable people was that Baltimore would be fine, in large part because it has Lamar Jackson at quarterback. Score one for the reasonable people. The Ravens have rattled off 11 wins over their next 14 games, including consecutive victories over the Steelers and Texans to launch themselves into first place in the AFC North. A home win over the 3-13 Browns on Saturday gives Baltimore a division title after a sluggish start to the season. Sports betting odds suggest Ravens fans won’t be held in suspense Saturday about the outcome of the division. What are the odds? The Ravens will end the regular season being favored in 16 of their 17 games, and they’re gigantic favorites this week. Spread: Ravens by 18 1/2 (FanDuel) Total: 41 1/2 points Moneyline: Ravens -3000, Browns +1300 Saturday’s spread could close as the largest for any Ravens game this season, and it’s the second time the Ravens will close as a double-digit favorite. Baltimore beat the Giants, 35-14, on Dec. 1 as a 17-point betting favorite. Baltimore is 3-2-1 against the spread and 4-2 outright as a betting favorite of at least seven points. The Browns have failed to cover the spread in five consecutive games. Fast start Expect the Ravens to enter this game with surprising focus for a matchup with a 3-13 opponent. There’s plenty at stake for Baltimore. A win guarantees a home playoff game via the AFC North title, and winning the division is one of the team’s annual goals. There’s also the fact that the Ravens lost to the lowly Browns earlier this season. Nobody in Baltimore’s locker room wants to be responsible for half of Cleveland’s wins this season. There’s a small revenge factor here, with Baltimore having a chance to right a wrong. For Baltimore, the ideal result Saturday is to build up a massive halftime lead before cruising in the second half and resting key starters such as Jackson and safety Kyle Hamilton. Given the benefit of jumping out to a large lead to put the division out of reach, my favorite bet of the week is the Ravens to cover the first-half spread. If Baltimore rests its top players after building a lead, the Browns could find success in a mostly irrelevant fourth quarter. The first half, however, should be all Ravens. Best bet: Ravens by 10 1/2 in the first half (BetMGM) View the full article Quote
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