The Baltimore Ravens (-2.5) and Atlanta Falcons are set to face off on the dome at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The opening kickoff for this showdown is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. ET and CBS will televise the action.
Betting Preview: Baltimore Ravens vs. Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta is the underdog in this matchup and is currently getting 2.5 points. The Ravens are also receiving -140 moneyline odds while the Falcons are +120. Oddsmakers have placed the over/under (O/U) at 49 points. There should be multiple good live betting possibilities in this game.
The line opened at 3 while the O/U hasn’t moved since it opened at 49.
The Ravens are down 0.6 units so far and 5-6 against the spread (ATS). The team has posted an O/U record of 5-6.
The lackluster Falcons have lost 5.7 units this season. The team is 3-8 ATS and has an O/U record of 6-5.
The Ravens are 6-5 straight up (SU) in 2018 while the Falcons are 4-7 SU.
Atlanta comes into this matchup on a zero-game winning streak while Baltimore has lost each of its last zero. The Ravens are trying to maintain momentum following a solid 34-17 victory over Oakland in Week 12. The defense did its part in the win, limiting the Raiders to just 194 passing yards and 67 rushing yards. Doug Martin had a productive day for the Raiders in that one with 51 rushing yards and a score on 11 attempts. Offensively, Lamar Jackson completed just 14 passes on 25 attempts for 178 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Gus Edwards (118 rushing yards on 23 attempts) and the signal-caller Jackson (71 yards on 11 carries, one TD) mounted the running attack in the win. Hayden Hurst (three receptions, 25 yards) and Michael Crabtree (three catches, 21 yards, one TD) handled the receiving duties.
In Week 12, New Orleans knocked off this Atlanta crew by a score of 31-17. The Falcons defensive unit allowed the Saints to kill the clock by rushing for 150 yards on 31 attempts. Alvin Kamara put up a good outing for New Orleans, recording 89 rushing yards on 14 attempts. For Atlanta, Matt Ryan completed 35-of-47 passes for 377 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Tevin Coleman (six rushing yards on eight attempts) spearheaded the ground game in the defeat while Julio Jones (11 receptions, 147 yards) and Calvin Ridley (eight catches, 93 yards, one TD) led the receiving attack.
Baltimore has run the ball on 42.9 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Atlanta has an overall rush percentage of 34.7 percent. The Ravens have produced 122.1 rush yards/game and have 14 scores via handoffs this year. The Falcons are logging 83.1 rush yards per game and have eight total rushing TDs.
If 2018 results are any indication, then the Ravens might have the edge in terms of efficiency in the ground game. Their backfield has produced 4.1 yards per carry while their defense is allowing 3.9 yards per rush attempt to opponents. The Falcons have registered 3.9 yards per carry and given up 5.1 yards per rush attempt to opponents.
The Ravens offense has logged 261.8 yards per contest through the air overall and has 14 passing TDs so far. The Falcons have recorded a superb 336.6 pass yards per contest and have 24 total pass scores.
Baltimore appears to have an edge in both areas of the defense. The team’s allowed opponents to run for an average of 92.1 yards and pass for 220.8 yards per game. The Atlanta defense has given up 285.9 yards per game to opposing passers and 123.7 yards per game on the ground. The Ravens are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 5.44 to opposing QBs, while the Falcons have given up a 7.38 ANY/A.
Passing-wise, Jackson has put up 265 yards on the year, and has completed 21-of-37 attempts with two scores through the air and two interceptions. He’s got a 5.21 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 4.06 over the last two games.
Look for a balanced attack offensively from Baltimore in this one. Gus Edwards, Lamar Jackson and Mark Andrews have collectively accounted for 516 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns over the last couple of outings.
On the other sideline, Matt Ryan has completed 286-of-400 passes for 3,392 yards, 23 TDs and four INTs. Ryan’s ANY/A stands at 8.07 for the season and 6.49 over his last two outings.
Expect Ryan to attack all areas of the Baltimore secondary. Julio Jones (1,187 receiving yards and two receiving TDs this season), Mohamed Sanu (490 receiving yards, three receiving TDs), and Calvin Ridley (593 receiving yards, eight TDs) have collectively recorded 520 receiving yards and two scores over the last couple of games, seeing 23, 10, and 17 targets respectively over that stretch.
Baltimore Ravens at Atlanta Falcons Free NFL Tip
SU Winner: Ravens, ATS Winner: Ravens, O/U: Over
Betting Notes
- The Ravens offense has recorded five pass plays of 40 or more yards, while the Falcons have put up seven such plays.
- The Baltimore defense has allowed two pass plays of 40+ yards, while Atlanta has given up six such plays.
- The Baltimore offense has created three rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Atlanta has created four such runs.
- The Ravens defense has allowed six rushing plays of 20+ yards, while the Falcons have given up 10 such runs.
- The Baltimore defensive unit has sacked opposing QBs 32 times this season. Atlanta has recorded just 21 sacks.
- As a team, Baltimore has produced 5.1 yards per carry across its last three games and 5.3 over its last two.
- Atlanta has averaged 3.3 yards per carry over its last three contests and 3.1 over its last two.
