Baltimore vs Kansas City – NFL Wild Card Predictions

The Kansas City Chiefs won the AFC West title and their reward is hosting the 12-4 Baltimore Ravens in the early game Sunday. Baltimore is a favorite in this game but when we look at the lines, they’re not as big as you’d think. Before you make your NFL wild card predictions, let’s see if I can sway your decision a little bit to back the underdog Chiefs.

The NFL Betting Odds makers have set the Ravens as the -3-point favorites. A straight up bet on the underdog Chiefs will pay bettors +150 on the moneyline. The game total is set at 40½ points.

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NFL Wild Card Betitng Odds

January 9, 2010

Baltimore Ravens -3 -115 -170

Kansas City Chiefs +3 -105 +150

Game Total 40½

Location: New Arrowhead Stadium – Kansas City MO

Game Time: 1:00pm

TV: CBS

On the surface the Kansas City Chiefs and the Ravens looks like a mismatch, especially when you consider the Ravens coming in on a four game winning streak. Three of their four losses came against playoff teams, New England and Pittsburgh earned a first round bye.

This season the Ravens defense was back to being very strong as they only allowed opponents to top 20 points in four of their 16 games.

Offensively, the Ravens were improved but not as much as expected. Their 22.3 points per game ranks just 16th in the league. Joe Flacco has failed to top 200 yards passing five times this season, including the final three games.

The reason for his lack of production could be that he was sacked more than any other quarterback in the AFC. His 40 sacks taken are only second to Jay Cutler’s 52.

The Chiefs defense is limiting opponents to just 20.4 points per game. They use an aggressive defense scheme that boasts the AFC sack leader Tamba Hali and solid secondary. Their secondary led by Brandon Flowers and rookie safety Eric Berry only has 14 interceptions but has knocked down 98 passes this season, leading the NFL in that category.

Offensively, Matt Cassel and Dwayne Bowe has excellent chemistry which should shine if the Chiefs NFL leading rushers can make some headway against the fifth best rush defense.

I know picking the Chiefs to win outright is going against 86% of bettors NFL wild card predictions but I’m trusting the odds makers here. Generally when 86% of the public is betting one side of the line, the bookmakers will move the line, even off 3-points. I think this is a trap game, the Chiefs were nearly perfect at home. I like the Chiefs to pull off a run similar to the Cardinals did a couple years ago.

NFL Betting Pick: Kansas City Chiefs +150