The start of the fourth quarter is marked by excitement. Bye weeks are now over, making way for a full 16-game schedule and an intriguing finale.
The Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens, two beloved NFL teams among West Virginia bettors, take center stage on Monday Night Football as they enter the last quarter of their season as formidable contenders.
The following are the odds offered this week by the leading sportsbooks in WV.
Browns-Ravens Betting Outlook
This game offers great betting potential, as Baltimore is slightly favored while Cleveland is on a winning streak.
With their impressive four consecutive victories, the 9-3 Browns have become one of the most captivating narratives in the league. Their remarkable turnaround from a dismal combined record of 1-31 in 2016 and 2017 has propelled them towards their first playoff berth since 2002.
The Ravens, with a current record of 7-5, have experienced a slight decline. Following their remarkable 14-2 performance last season, there were high hopes for them to build on their learnings from the playoff defeat against the Tennessee Titans and make a strong push towards a Super Bowl victory. However, they find themselves in a tough battle to secure a playoff berth instead.
In addition to the main focus of the game, there is another important factor to consider: The Browns suffered a crushing defeat of 38-6 against the Ravens in the season opener. However, the NFL is an ever-evolving journey, where progress is made day by day and week by week. Surprisingly, despite that initial setback, Cleveland now boasts two more wins than Baltimore. Moreover, this time around, they have the advantage of playing on their home turf, possibly seeking redemption.
Can the Browns continue their hot streak and progress further after being overwhelmed by the Ravens and Steelers in the past?
Ravens come off win over Cowboys
As anticipated, the Ravens regained their momentum with a solid 34-17 victory against the Dallas Cowboys on Tuesday night.
Baltimore’s rushing attack amassed close to 300 yards, fatiguing Dallas and displaying their offensive prowess.
For Baltimore’s offense to flourish, Lamar Jackson must replicate his performance against Dallas, where he amassed 94 rushing yards and scored a touchdown.
Despite the lack of defensive pressure, Baltimore managed to surpass Dallas. However, the Cowboys came close to scoring on a first-half Hail Mary and also missed three field goals.
If the Ravens fail to bring pressure, the Browns will eagerly take advantage, as the Cowboys had a clear opportunity to score close to 30 points against them.
Browns fresh from Titans victory
Cleveland heads into the game with newfound confidence after a significant triumph over the Tennessee Titans.
Following three close victories against the Houston Texans, Philadelphia Eagles, and Jacksonville Jaguars, with a combined margin of only 10 points, the Browns dominated the first half against the 8-3 Titans, establishing a commanding 38-7 lead. The final score of 41-35 was merely superficial, as Cleveland had already accumulated a substantial advantage before Tennessee attempted a comeback.
Baker Mayfield, the quarterback, delivered an exceptional performance in his latest game, scoring four touchdowns and achieving his first 300-yard game of the season. Rashard Higgins has emerged as a potential primary target, taking over for the injured Odell Beckham Jr., who unfortunately will be sidelined for the remainder of the season. Additionally, Jarvis Landry continues to be a reliable option. Let’s not forget the impressive play by Donovan Peoples-Jones, who sprinted for a remarkable 75-yard touchdown pass.
Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt form the most formidable backfield duo in the NFL, and credit must also be given to the impressive Cleveland offensive line. Gamblers will certainly be enticed by the exceptional scoring abilities of Baker Mayfield and the league’s top-notch running back duo, Chubb and Hunt.
Steelers look to regroup against Bills
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ dominating run has come to an end, marking the beginning of a new phase for the team. Unusually, they find themselves as underdogs against the hosting Buffalo Bills on Sunday.
Having been caught off guard by the Washington Football Team on Monday, the Steelers’ impressive 11-1 record took a hit with a 23-17 loss.
According to Johnny Avello, the director of race and sportsbook operations for DraftKings, there has been considerable backing for a proposition bet on the Steelers achieving a perfect 16-0 season.
“We initially introduced it five weeks into the season, and it gained significant popularity, with odds starting at around 20-1,” he explained. “As the weeks went by, more and more people continued to participate, placing bets of $20, $50, and even $100. Naturally, the odds decreased, reaching approximately 4-1 before the Steelers lost, yet a considerable number of individuals still engaged in the game.”
According to Avello, the Kansas City Chiefs are regarded as the best team in the NFL. However, the Green Bay Packers and potentially the Bills possess sufficient offensive strength to engage in a high-scoring contest against Chiefs’ quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
DraftKings has the Chiefs as clear favorites to win the Super Bowl with odds of +210, indicating their significant advantage over other teams.
The odds for the Packers and Steelers are set at +800, while the Bills have odds of +1700.
The New Orleans Saints have achieved the longest win streak in the NFL this year, with a remarkable nine consecutive victories. As a result, their odds stand at +500.
Saints face Eagles as favorites
Sean Payton, the coach of the New Orleans team, could potentially have Drew Brees return to the field when the Saints face off against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Saints are expected to dominate the game as clear favorites. Drew Brees, a highly acclaimed quarterback, has been absent from the past three weeks due to injuries including fractured ribs and a collapsed lung.
However, Brees’ absence has gone unnoticed.
Since last year, the Saints have maintained a perfect 8-0 record without his presence. Additionally, in the three games he has been absent this year, New Orleans has achieved a flawless 3-0 record with three successful covers. The offense has displayed satisfactory performance, while the defense has been outstanding, conceding a mere 28 points.
The NFL’s longest winning streak currently belongs to the Saints, who have won nine consecutive games.
Philadelphia may be ushering in a new era as the Eagles have designated Jalen Hurts as their starting quarterback, signaling a fresh chapter for the team.
In the second half of their 30-16 defeat against the Green Bay Packers, Hurts, the second-round draft pick of the Eagles, injected life into their offense. His mobility provided a noticeable contrast to the sluggishness of Carson Wentz, who has been hampered by inadequate support from the offensive line. Philadelphia has endured at least three sacks in their previous 10 games, and their season has been derailed as a result. Previously leading the division with a record of 3-4-1, the Eagles have now suffered four consecutive losses.
Can Patriots repeat their triumph in LA?
In an interesting scheduling twist, the New England Patriots will kick off Week 14 on Thursday night, facing off against the Los Angeles Rams in a stadium they are quite familiar with.
On Sunday, the Los Angeles Chargers faced a crushing defeat by the New England Patriots, with a staggering 45-0 scoreline. This game took place in the new SoFi Stadium, which is shared by both the Chargers and the Rams.
With a sudden surge, New England has emerged victorious in four out of five games, bringing their record to 6-6. A successful sweep at SoFi stadium would significantly boost their chances of making it to the playoffs.
Cam Newton, the quarterback for New England, continues to be a strong contender for an “anytime scorer” bet, offering a payout of approximately even odds. Additionally, he poses a significant threat to secure the first touchdown, which provides a lucrative payout. Throughout the season, Newton has already accumulated an impressive 11 rushing touchdowns.
Around the NFL
The Miami Dolphins welcome the Kansas City team to their home stadium. Currently, the Dolphins share the top record and potential first-round bye in the AFC with the Pittsburgh team.
After securing a crucial and miraculous victory against the yet-to-win New York Jets, the Las Vegas Raiders are set to host the Indianapolis Colts.
The New York Giants, who currently lead the NFC East, and the Washington Football Team aim to maintain their winning streaks. After triumphing over the Seattle Seahawks on the road, the Giants will be hosting the Arizona Cardinals. Meanwhile, Washington, fresh off their victory in Pittsburgh, will be heading to Glendale, AZ to face the San Francisco 49ers, as the 49ers’ home stadium remains closed due to local COVID-19 restrictions.
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