NFL Playoff Betting – Baltimore Ravens at Buffalo Bills
The two hottest teams in the NFL square off in an AFC divisional round playoff game on Saturday when the Baltimore Ravens visit the Buffalo Bills. Both sides extended lengthy overall winning streaks last week with the Ravens ending two years worth of postseason misery by knocking off Tennessee for their sixth consecutive victory. The Bills have been even better winning their first playoff game since 1995 while extending their overall run of triumphs to seven. Buffalo opened as a 2.5-point favorite on the NFL betting line. Bookmaker.eu offers a generous welcome bonus (max bonus $1600)
Baltimore Ravens at Buffalo Bills
Date and Time: Saturday, January 16, 2021, 8:15 p.m. ET
Location: Bills Stadium, Orchard Park, NY
NFL Odds: Bills -2, O/U 50.5
Ravens at Bills TV Coverage: NBC
Odds Analysis
The Ravens have been in playoff mode for over a month needing to win out after a loss to Pittsburgh in Week 12 had them outside the top-7. They got some players back after a COVID outbreak and they’ve been on an absolute heater ever since winning their final five regular season games while going 6-0 ATS in their last six. They exorcised some playoff demons at Tennessee last week earning a seventh straight payout with their 20-13 win as a 3.5-point favorite. The Ravens are 7-2 SU and 6-3 ATS on the road this season and they are catching 2-points on the current line after the number was wagered down from its opening +2.5. The Bills are also on a roll having won seven in a row following their 27-24 triumph over Indianapolis last week. They failed to cover the 7-point spread ending a string of eight straight payouts. The Bills are still one of the most profitable teams with an 11-6 ATS mark overall.
Baltimore Ravens
After two postseason flops, Lamar Jackson finally got over the hump. This season was going to be defined by how the Ravens fared in the playoffs, and it still will be. But they almost didn’t get to this spot. Jackson had to play superman over the final five regular season games and the magic continued into the wild card game. There was a lot of chatter about whether Jackson could perform on the big stage after he had more turnovers than touchdowns in losses to the Chargers in 2018 and Tennessee last year.
The narrative has changed, at least for now. Jackson overcame a sluggish start that included an interception that led to a Titans field goal. With the help of a rugged defense, Jackson took over with a nifty 48-yard touchdown run tying the game. Jackson ran for 136 yards and the Ravens amassed 236 yards on the ground, their fourth game with over 200 rushing yards in the last five.
While all the talk was about Jackson getting his first postseason win, the defense should get most of the credit. The group held NFL rushing leader Derrick Henry to 40 yards on 18 carries while limiting the fourth-highest scoring offense to a season low point total. The Ravens allowed just 209 total yards and held Tennessee to 4 of 12 on third down conversions. They’ve allowed fewer than 20 points in six of their last seven games ending the regular season with the second-best scoring defense. The return of Jimmy Smith and Yannick Ngakoue last week puts the group at close to full strength for a showdown with Buffalo’s high scoring offense.
Buffalo Bills
The Bills had a breakthrough of their own with a win over Indianapolis. It was their first postseason victory since 1995 and came in front of a small gathering of fans. They also have their own stud quarterback in Josh Allen, who will always be linked to Jackson as players taken in the first round of the 2018 draft. And here they are meeting for a chance to play for the AFC title. Allen had his own MVP-type season setting numerous team records. He threw for 4,544 yards and 27 touchdowns for Buffalo’s second ranked total offense and scoring offense.
Allen will have his hands full with Baltimore’s stingy defense. And the ground game will be impacted by the loss of Zack Moss, who was carted off the field last week with a significant leg injury. Moss ran for 481 yards and four touchdowns during the regular season as a capable fill in for Devin Singletary.
I really don’t like this matchup for the Bills. Their run defense wasn’t that good and they have to stop a team that led the league in rushing yards. Overall the Bills were a middle-of-the-pack defense finishing 14th in yards allowed and 16 in points allowed. They surrendered nearly 120 yards per game on the ground to rank 17th. The Bills have to keep Jackson in the pocket and force him to throw the football. If not, it could be a long day.
Bet Ravens at Bills at BookMaker.eu
Both teams are playing fantastic football heading into this matchup. With past playoff failures behind him Jackson can play for a title and his defense gives Baltimore an edge. This game feels like it’s going to come down to the last possession and as good as Allen and the Bills are offensively, I like the Ravens to get more stops and emerge with a victory.
NFL Score Prediction: Baltimore 29, Buffalo 26
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- Phil Simon, Gambling911.com
