NFL Betting – Can Ravens Pull A Shocker?

The Baltimore Ravens and New England Patriots are ready for a rematch but will the result be different? These two teams met all the way back in Week 4 but the situation was very different. The Ravens were a perfect 3-0 at that time while the Patriots were a struggling outfit. This time around, the dynamics are different but the result should be very similar. Going inside the NFL lines, look for a close game but don’t be surprised if the Ravens are on the winning end this time.

Baltimore Ravens @ New England Patriots

JustBet Odds (JustBet Sportsbook Review): Patriots -3.5

Last Week

The Ravens and Patriots were in very different spots last week as the Ravens needed a win just to qualify for the playoffs while the Patriots had their fate sealed, but were playing just for kicks.

The result turned out to be very different for both teams. The Ravens played hard and got the win but the Patriots suffered a huge loss in their game against Houston – a contest that they could have rested all of their starters.

Sports handicapping experts saw the Patriots lose Wes Welker to a torn ACL in that contest, which cost the Patriots their most reliable receiver. Welker has had three straight seasons with 111 catches or more, which gives you an indication of just how valuable he is to the team. He only started 13 games this year and still finished with 123 receptions, which is incredible. Without him, the Patriots may not be the same.

This Week

The Ravens came so close to beat the Patriots in the first meeting and now without Welker, they’ll have an even better shot this week. The first matchup was marred by some bad penalties that the Ravens took in the second half, which allowed the Patriots to win that contest. If the Ravens play smarter, they’ll have a chance to win.

Baltimore has struggled against quality teams this year as they are just 1-6 against playoff teams but many of those losses were close. If they can run the ball on offense and keep the Patriots on the sidelines, they should have an excellent chance to win this game. The Patriots gave up 4.4 yards per carry this season and if they do that in this game, they will lose.

NFL Picks: Ravens +3.5