Ravens Patriots Spread Sees Pats As Betting Favorites
You don't have to be a rocket scientist to realize that Sunday's showdown at Gillette Stadium between the Baltimore Ravens and the New England Patriots will be a big ol grudge match, for the visiting Patriots, that is. Who can forget how the Ravens left egg on the faces of the Patriots in January this year, by winning the first NFL playoff game in Foxborough in over 30 years?
Not the Patriots, that's for sure. Which is why they'll be looking for payback on Sunday, and no doubt partly why, as per the Ravens Patriots Spread, NFL oddsmakers have laid New England as the -3 favorites (O/U 44.5). That said, New England will have their work cut out, especially after their superb wide receiver Randy Moss was traded away last week to the Minnesota Vikings about as abruptly as he was hired.
It's interesting that oddsmakers have formulated a New England-friendly Ravens Patriots line even though Baltimore are the current AFC North leaders. Or is it, considering how well New England have been playing of late. Moss' departure aside, the Patriots will still have their phenomenal 41-14 victory over the Miami Dolphins on October 4 still fresh in their minds. They made NFL history in that game by becoming the first team ever to score touchdowns in five different ways, through rushing, passing and returning a kickoff, blocked field goal and interception.
That said, they will also no doubt still have painful memories of their crushing defeat in January at the hands of the Ravens. So the million dollar Ravens Patriots betting question is whether the Patriots will be spurred on by the desire to exact revenge over Baltimore or whether they'll succumb to the team that crushed their chances like a bug last season. For our money, the latter.
But first consider some NFL stats. The Ravens have lost all five regular season games against New England since relocating to Baltimore. Meanwhile, the Patriots have won seven consecutive games following their bye week, as well as 11 straight games at home in the regular season. It's Over is 9-4-1 in its last 14 home games. For Baltimore, the Under is 10-4-1 in its last 15 games against the AFC, while overall, its Under is 11-5-1 in its last 17 games.
