Baltimore Ravens

Raiders at Ravens: Odds, trends and more

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

share

facebookxredditlink

foxsports

The Baltimore Ravens are 3.5-point favorites for their home game against the Oakland Raiders in Week 4. It’s not the most generous opening line for a 3-0 team.

Maybe it’s because the Ravens haven’t exactly been wowing the crowds despite their unbeaten start. A 13-7 win over the Buffalo Bills in Week 1 was followed by a 25-20 edging of the Cleveland Browns before Baltimore survived a two-point squeaker to beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 19-17 last week.

None of the wins have been comprehensive, which explains the relatively lean over/under of 45. Safe bettors will go against the spread for this match-up. It makes sense since the Ravens are 5-0 ATS in recent home games against Oakland, as well as 9-3 ATS in 12 games against the Raiders home and away, per Stephen Campbell of OddsShark.

Something will have to give, though, between a stuttering Baltimore offense and the Raiders weak defense. Oakland has struggled on D, even though the Silver and Black managed to hold the Tennessee Titans to just 10 points in Week 3.

More NFL coverage from FanSided

Each team’s best draft pick of all-time

Heisman winners with best NFL careers

30 best NFL coaches of all-time

Odds

Line: BAL (-3.5)

Over/Under: 45

If the Raiders can keep quarterback Joe Flacco and wide receivers Steve Smith and Mike Wallace under wraps, opting for the under would be a good bet. After all, the Ravens have the defensive chops to harass Oakland quarterback Derek Carr and shut down a disappointing running game.

D-tackle Timmy Jernigan is splitting blocks for fun up front, while veteran edge-rusher Terrell Suggs still lives in opposing backfields. The Baltimore secondary remains a work in progress, but brainy safety Eric Weddle can hold it together.

This could soon descend into a dour defensive battle if Flacco is still guilty of making dubious decisions from the pocket. It won’t help if a feeble rushing attack is easily wrecked by Raiders house-sized interior linemen Dan Williams and Justin Ellis.

The Ravens have gone under in five of the last six contests, per OddsShark, while the Raiders have favored the under in four of six games on the road.

However, there’s enough talent in both passing games, combined with just enough fragility in the Oakland defense, to reward those brave enough to bet on the over.

More from FanSided

This article originally appeared on

share

Get more from Baltimore Ravens Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

in this topic

Baltimore Ravens

Las Vegas Raiders

National Football League