NFL Betting Odds: St Louis a Safe Haven for Baltimore to Lift Spirit
Sunday, September 25, 2011
by Aengus Moorehead
Analysis:
Baltimore Ravens' coronation as AFC Champion was obviously premature. After looking like world-beaters in a Week 1 thrashing of bitter division rival Pittsburgh, the Ravens came crashing back to earth with a 26-13 loss at Tennessee last week.
Baltimore Ravens' proud defense was carved up through the air by the Titans, a tactic the winless St Louis Rams will likely attempt to duplicate when they host the Ravens on Sunday. Mistake-prone St. Louis didn't look ready for the bright lights of Monday Night Football in a 28-16 loss to the New York Giants last week.
Time & Venue:
- 4:05 PM ET, Sunday, September 25, 2011. Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, Missouri
Last Week's result:
- Baltimore Ravens (-6.5) loses to host Tennessee Titans 26-13.
- St Louis Rams (+6.5) loses to host NY Giants 28-16.
Against the Spread:
- Favourite Baltimore loses outright.
- Underdog St-Louis loses and does not cover.
NFL Football Odds: Ravens -5, O/U 42
Next up:
- Baltimore home to NY Jets, Sunday, October 2
- St. Louis home to Washington, Sunday, October 2
Mistakes and an inability to finish off scoring drives doomed St. Louis to its fifth consecutive 0-2 start to a season. QB Sam Bradford has had a fumble and lateral pass returned for a touchdown in consecutive weeks to put the team in a hole. Bradford did throw for a career-high 331 yards against the Giants, but he couldn't get the team in the end zone on three possessions inside the 10-yard line. RB Steven Jackson is still limited by a quadriceps injury that caused him to miss last week's game and backup Cadillac Williams is dealing with a hamstring problem.
After a dominant performance in a 35-7 win over the Steelers, Baltimore fell flat in all areas last week. The defense was torched for 358 passing yards and allowed the Titans to hold the ball for nearly 36 minutes. The Ravens were equally inept on the other side of the ball, managing only 229 yards of total offense. QB Joe Flacco was intercepted twice and sacked three times while RB Ray Rice was limited to 43 yards rushing. Rice did haul in five catches for 53 yards and a score, giving him three TDs and 245 yards from scrimmage in his first two games.
Flacco has shown a remarkable ability to shake off a poor performance in defeat. He was 4-0 following a loss last season and never had a passer rating below 107.5 in those victories.
Baltimore's defense ranks fourth against the run, allowing 70.0 yards per game, but sits 28th against the pass with an average of 302.0 yards surrendered.
Baltimore's defense ranks fourth against the run, allowing 70.0 yards per game, but sits 28th against the pass with an average of 302.0 yards surrendered.
The total has gone OVER in 5 of St. Louis's last 7 games when playing Baltimore
St. Louis is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Baltimore
St. Louis is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games
Baltimore is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing St. Louis
Baltimore is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games
St. Louis doesn’t have enough playmakers to exploit Baltimore’s suspect pass defense, and the leg of Josh Brown won’t be enough to spring an upset. Those problems will continue this week as the Rams run into a Baltimore team that will be eager to put last week behind them, and the St. Louis defense isn’t good enough to carry their team, although they are getting better. The Rams have a good front four that will have to put pressure on Flacco, but they also have to deal with Rice, who can hurt you on the ground and in the air. Bradford would like to get help from the running game, but with Jackson still out (likely), the Ravens can sit back and dare the Rams to pass, and that works out well for them. Without Jackson, Rams have no answer for the Ravens.
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NFL Football Pick: Take Ravens.
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baltimore ravens - cadillac williams - edward jones dome - joe flacco - josh brown - monday night football - ray rice - sam bradford - st louis rams - steven jackson
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