The Baltimore Ravens have been making their fans happy with heart-pounding, come-from-behind wins this season in building a 4-1 record in the AFC North. But they’ve left their betting backers frustrated with a lackluster record against the NFL betting spread.
Baltimore is 2-3 ATS, failing to cover in the three games when they’ve been point-spread favorites in Maryland sports betting. The two covers have been as underdogs against Kansas City at home and against Denver on the road (both were also wins on the scoreboard).
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As of Thursday morning, depending on the sportsbook, the Ravens are 2.5- or 3-point NFL odds favorites at home for Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Chargers. The Chargers have been something of a surprise with a 4-1 start in the AFC West and are also 4-1 ATS, winning outright two games in which they were underdogs (against Washington and Kansas City).
Focus on Young QBs
The Chargers-Ravens game will offer a duel between two exciting young quarterbacks — the Ravens’ electric Lamar Jackson and the Chargers’ emerging gunslinger Justin Herbert. And in each case, those QBs will be going against a suspect defense.
The Ravens, traditionally a stingy and opportunistic defensive team, have 16 players on injured reserve, including star cornerback Marcus Peters. So far, they’re ranked 29th in passing yards allowed (1,482) and have just three interceptions.
Meanwhile, the Chargers have an absolutely porous defense, especially against the run (32nd in the NFL), which figures to be trouble against one of the NFL’s most prolific running attacks.
Bettors Like Chargers
Considering how many Ravens games are decided by a Justin Tucker field goal, if the game goes off at Ravens -3, the most likely outcome could be a point-spread push for Maryland gambling.
In the early betting, the Chargers are favored by a whopping 90% getting 2.5 points at BetMGM. On the moneyline, the Chargers (+135) are getting even more of the money, 94%, at bet365. On the over-under, the over is favored by a 2-to-1 margin. That is set at
Who Will Win?
Prediction: Jackson is the Ravens’ most potent weapon but so often it is Tucker’s uncannily accurate leg that’s the deciding factor. It will be a shootout that comes down to Tucker. Ravens 30, Chargers 27.
