The defending Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens are one of the biggest underdogs on the board in Week 1 of the NFL season.
The Ravens were 9 ½-point underdogs Thursday at Denver, the same site where Joe Flacco led an improbable comeback against Peyton Manning and the Broncos in the playoffs. But mid-week betting on Baltimore drove the spread back down to 7.5.
A lot has changed about the Ravens since that game. Defensive mainstays Ray Lewis and Ed Reed are gone, but Flacco, Ray Rice and Torrey Smith are back to lead what turned into an explosive offense by the end of last season’s Super Bowl run.
The Broncos will be without defensive end Von Miller, who is suspended for the first six games for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.
For trend bettors, the Ravens have covered five straight Week 1 matches.
View Baltimore vs Denver Odds and Stats.
Broncos vs Ravens Betting Line:
The point spread was settled in at 7.5 favoring the host Broncos earlier in the week, according to Sportsbook. The over under line was hovering around 49.5, with movement expected during the week at Sportsbook.
Power Rankings / Prediction:
The OddsShark Power Rankings have the Broncos at No. 1 and the Ravens at No. 15 heading into this contest. Handicapping models project a 36-27 result in favor of the Broncos, which would be an emphatic OVER as well as a Ravens cover.
Baltimore Ravens Trends:
When playing in September are 7-3
When playing on grass are 6-4
After being outgained are 7-3
When playing outside the division are 7-3
Denver Broncos Trends:
When playing in September are 4-6
When playing on grass are 9-1
After being outgained are 8-2
When playing outside the division are 6-4
A few Ravens at Broncos trends to consider:
Baltimore is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
Baltimore is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games on the road
Baltimore is 7-3 SU in its last 10 games when playing Denver
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Baltimore's last 6 games
Denver is 11-1 SU in its last 12 games
Denver is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Denver's last 5 games at home
Denver is 9-3 SU in its last 12 games when playing at home against Baltimore
Next up:
Baltimore home to Cleveland, Sunday, September 15
Denver at NY Giants, Sunday, September 15
