The Baltimore Ravens’ season began on a disappointing note as less than an inch separated Isaiah Likely from a potential game-tying touchdown in a tight Week 1 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, but they’ll have a golden opportunity to feast on the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 2.
Looking every bit the part of a terrible offense last week, my Raiders vs. Ravens predictions have the Raiders offensive struggles continuing in a low-scoring game.
Let’s get right into our NFL Picks for September 15, 2024.
Raiders vs Ravens prediction
My best betUnder 41.5 (-110 at BetMGM)
My analysisI’m not ready to write off the Las Vegas Raiders this quickly, though I will gladly admit that this does not look like the team that finished off last season in promising fashion with three wins in four games.
Las Vegas is sporting an improved secondary these days, making a solid run in the second half of 2023 to finish around the middle of the league. It had its biggest issues on the ground in Week 1, allowing 6.5 yards per carry, but the bulk of that came on a long 61-yard run from J.K. Dobbins.
Around that and three kneel-downs from Justin Herbert, the defense still struggled in allowing just over five yards per carry, but they did grate out as the top run defense of the week according to Pro Football Focus and simply faced a heavy dose of rushes as the game quickly got away from them early.
We do generally think of the Baltimore Ravens as one of the run-happiest teams after ranking top three in rushing rate once again last year, but things may be changing. They threw at the sixth-highest clip in the league last week as Derrick Henry struggled to do much of anything on the ground, and if this one features passing it could wind up being rather close.
Lamar Jackson picked apart Kansas City’s secondary a week ago, but the Chiefs’ front seven failed to put much pressure on him and had a tough time containing him on scrambles. Las Vegas can couple its positive performance against the run in Week 1 with some more good work against the pass, holding Herbert to just 5.5 yards per attempt, and making this one a ballgame.
The Ravens should have a good chance to slow down what looked to be an incompetent Raiders offense last week, meanwhile, with Baltimore getting to Patrick Mahomes plenty in its opening loss and making life even easier on one of the best secondaries in football.
I do not expect Gardner Minshew to rise to the occasion here, particularly after he was sacked four times by the Chargers, and as a result, this one should turn into a low-scoring affair that features one elite defense and one that has quietly been well above-average ever since Antonio Pierce took over as head coach.
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Raiders vs Ravens same-game parlay
Under 41.5Isaiah Likely anytime TDJakobi Meyers Over 39.5 receiving yards
+1,550 at BetMGM
You might think that crafting a parlay for a low-scoring game is no fun, but I’d argue the opposite considering you’ll receive a massive boost in the odds if you can pick out the few offensive players who will have success.
The first order of business is backing Isaiah Likely to get into the end zone. As the ball moves slowly up the field, we should be presented with plenty of red zone possessions as both defenses make it incredibly difficult to find the end zone.
Las Vegas struggled to contain Hayden Hurst a week ago, allowing two grabs on three targets and allowing one more catch of 13 yards to Will Dissly on his only target. That should open the door here for Isaiah Likely, who tied the league-high with three red zone targets last week and caught the sixth touchdown in his last six regular-season games.
Then, I’ll go back to the well with Jakobi Meyers after he came through for us last week – catching all three balls thrown his way for 61 yards. He’s fresh off what reporters called an excellent training camp and has clearly emerged as one of this team’s three best players on offense.
Drawing a matchup with Brandon Stephens, whose Week 1 grade at PFF was a lousy 62.5, it’s not as if the matchup is too arduous for Meyers to continue getting the rock – and this number is far too low for what he’s capable of after the catch. Dating back to last season, he’s now gone for 40 or more yards in four straight.
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Raiders vs Ravens odds
Raiders vs Ravens live odds
Raiders vs Ravens opening odds
- Spread: Las Vegas +8 | Baltimore -8
- Moneyline: Las Vegas +305 | Baltimore -358
- Over/Under: Over 41.5 | Under 41.5
Odds courtesy of BetMGM
