A pivotal matchup for both teams on Monday Night Football, as the Baltimore Ravens (5-3) head to New Orleans to take on the Saints (3-5). With the AFC North and NFC South being two of the tighter divisions this season, a win or loss in this winnable matchup for both teams could make a massive difference come week 18. With both sides depleted due to injury, an interesting handicap awaits.
It was a poor Thursday Night Football, as the Texans kept it close with the Eagles throughout the contest. It was easily the Eagles worst 1st half performance of the year, but credit to the Texans fighting hard. Our primetime bets now sit at 13-9-1 (+5.38u) for the season, with our staking being the biggest issue the past few weeks.
Baltimore Ravens at New Orleans Saints Preview & Betting Tips
Mercedes-Benz Superdome, Tuesday 12:15pm AEDT
Last Week
The Ravens come into this contest off the mini bye, having last played on Thursday Night Football in week 8, as they took down the Buccaneers 27-22 in Tampa. After starting slow, the Ravens rushing attack suffocated the Bucs in the 2nd half, leading to the Ravens enjoying 38 minutes of possession to the Bucs 22 minutes. They rushed for 231 yards against what is thought of as one of the best rush defences in the league, so the Saints will have to be switched on. The Ravens were led by Lamar Jackson who threw for 238 yards and 2 touchdowns, whilst also running for 43 yards, and getting a combined 137 yards on the ground on 18 carries between Gus Edwards and Kenyon Drake.
The Saints are also coming off a win, having shut down the Raiders in week 8 by a score of 24-0. And whilst some credit must be given to the Saints defence, the Raiders look like one of the worst teams in the league right now. The Saints were efficient on offense, with Andy Dalton throwing for 229 yards and 2 touchdowns, but the star was Alvin Kamara, who ran for 62 yards and a touchdown, whilst catching 9 passes for 96 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Injury Report
Baltimore Ravens
Mark Andrews (TE) – OUT
Rashod Bateman (WR) – OUT
J.K. Dobbins (WR) – OUT
Kyle Fuller (CB) – OUT
Ja’Wuan James (OT) – OUT
Michael Pierce (NT) – OUT
Gus Edwards (RB) – DOUBTFUL
Marcus Peters (CB) – QUESTIONABLE
Marcus Williams (FS) – OUT
New Orleans Saints
Mark Ingram (RB) – OUT
Trevor Penning (OT) – OUT
Bradley Roby / Marshon Lattimore (CB) – OUT
Michael Thomas (WR) – OUT
Jarvis Landry (WR) – QUESTIONABLE
Match Preview
What a brutal injury report for the Ravens, with Rashod Bateman ruled out for the season this week, whilst Lamar’s favourite target Mark Andrews misses out. And whilst the Saints are also missing a few key players, they have been playing without them for several weeks now, and admirably at that. Over the past 4 weeks the Saints have managed wins over the Seahawks and Raiders, whilst losing a tight one to the Bengals and another in a track meet with the Cardinals (two Andy Dalton pick 6’s were the difference). Whilst the Saints still cling to a chance at winning the NFC South, they will continue to be plucky.
This number was Ravens -3.5 on the lookahead, before opening at Ravens -3. The Saints have been bet all week since injuries have been confirmed, and whilst I can understand the move, I still think Ravens at anything less than 3 is where the value is in this one. I bet Saints +3 at open, but that was more about betting a Monday Night Football home underdog. I don’t see how the loss of Mark Andrews and Rashod Bateman make the look ahead line go all the way through the key number of 3 and down to 1.5.
Another key to the handicap in this one is Andy Dalton and his primetime issues. Dalton currently holds a 6-19 primetime record as a starting quarterback. The last time we saw Dalton in primetime was Thursday Night Football in week 7, when he cost the Saints victory by throwing two pick 6’s. So, I’ll be taking Baltimore to win, and having a small flutter on another play at long odds.
I spoke last week about the trend of betting Monday Night Football home underdogs in the first half, and I’ll go to the well again here, where I’ll split a 2u stake on two correlated bets.
Alternate Bets
Saints (Draw No Bet 1st half ML) - $1.97 @ Unibet (1.5u)
Saints/Ravens (1st half / Full time double) - $7.50 (0.5u)
Ravens H2H
$1.87 (2 Units)
