Chiefs vs. Ravens Odds (Middling Alert)
One might not think so at first, but the Kansas City Chiefs vs. Baltimore Ravens odds were among the most sought after during Week 1 of the 2009 NFL season. There was also a pretty good middling opportunity available though we didn't expect this one to last for very long. It's also not the greatest number in the world: 13.
You could bet the Ravens at -12 ½ at betED.com and the Chiefs at +13 ½ at Sports Interaction, a line that was very difficult to find. We suggest if you would like to take advantage of this opportunity, do so immediately because we really don't know how long it will last or if by the time this article goes to press these lines will still be available. The good news is that the trend seems to be for the line to be moving up. If some of the books like betED.com hold out for -12 ½, this middling opportunity could present itself again throughout the day on Saturday. Gambling911.com will be keeping a close eye out.
In any event, this one opened at Ravens -7 and the oddsmakers seem to feel confident that Baltimore could win here by more than a touch down.
Gene Wojciechowski of ESPN.com on Baltimore:
Linebacker Bart Scott is gone (big-money deal with Ryan and the Jets), but the Ravens' defense still remains one of the leading causes of snot bubbles and wooziness.
Quarterback Joe Flacco reached the AFC Championship Game as a rookie and his days of being fed the game plan like it was a spoonful of Gerber's are done (he's had a really nice preseason). The running game will do its part, but how many more 1,000-yard seasons can the Ravens squeeze out of 12-year veteran Derrick Mason? Love the guy, but he's 35.
Part of the reason why the Ravens have become such a big favorite is that Matt Cassel sprained his knee, though Tyler Thigpen is still a solid backup quarterback. The fact that Kansas City fired offensive coordinator Chan Gailey tells us this team probably won't be quite ready for Week 1.
Oddly enough, the away team has won the last 4 in this series. Don't expect that to happen again.
Baltimore beat KC by 10 points in 2006, the last time these two teams met. Kansas City is 3-1 over the last four dating back to 1999 however. And, yes, KC is 3-0 in Baltimore.
The Ravens defense hasn't allowed a 100-yard rusher in 35 games but Kansas City's Larry Johnson was the last back to do so against the Ravens running for 120 yards in 2006.
Here are some more vital Kansas City Chiefs vs. Baltimore Ravens Odds betting trends to consider:
The Chiefs are 8-0 ATS in their last 8 games as a road underdog of 10.5 or greater.
However, the Ravens are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games as a favorite and 8-2 ATS in their last 10 vs. AFC.
It would not be surprising to see a complete Ravens blowout nor would we be surprised to see KC keep this game close, especially based on recent head-to-head trends.
Around 60 percent of the bets are coming in on Baltimore so it will not be a devastating blow to the books if the Ravens covers.
Again, depending on which side you want to bet, the two online sportsbooks to look at would be betED.com for the Ravens at -12 ½ and Sports Interaction for Kansas City at +13 ½.
Christopher Costigan, Gambling911.com
