NFL Sports Book Odds Fave Atlanta in Tough vs. Baltimore

This Thursday the NFL begins their yearly Thursday night football schedule and, man, what a game it figures to be with -1 point Football sports book odds favorite Atlanta hosting the Baltimore Ravens.

Before really getting into the nuts and bolts of the game, there is a piece of advice I want to give to my fantasy football playing friends:  draft Raven QB Joe Flacco if he’s available in your league. 

Why?  Keep reading to find out!

Here is BetOnline.com’s resident Ravens expert Ariana with her NFL Betting take:

[Off topic: by the way, do you want to get a 55% bonus on your first deposit here at BetOnline? If so JOIN NOW.]

Baltimore Ravens at Atlanta Falcons

Where:  Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia

When:  Nov. 11th, 2010 at 8:20 pm EST

TV:  NFL Network

Radio:  Sirius-XM 125 (BAL) 126 (ATL) 

NFL Betting Line

Baltimore Ravens                      +1 -110           O 43 -110

Atlanta Falcons             -1 -110                        U 43 -110

The trends say that both teams have a shot versus the spread in the sportsbook.

• The Baltimore Ravens are 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 games following a straight up victory.
• The Baltimore Ravens are 2-0-2 ATS in their last 4 games as an underdog of ½ to 3 points.
• The Atlanta Falcons are 8 and 2 ATS in their last 10 games following an ATS loss.
• The Atlanta Falcons are 4 and 1 ATS in their last 5 games after accumulating more than 350 total yards in their previous game.

The NFL sports book odds makers must feel that the Falcons are going to get a stern test in this game or else Atlanta would be at least a -3 point home fave versus the Ravens.  I’m with the odds makers.  In fact, by game time, football handicappers shouldn’t be surprised if the odds end up at Baltimore -2 or even -2 ½ in this game.

Why?  QB Joe Flacco, RB Ray Rice and WR Anquan Boldin.  Flacco has an 88.9 QB rating for the season, but check out what he’s done in the last 3 Ravens’ games:  119.3 vs. New England, 111 vs. Buffalo, 129.6 vs. Miami.  That’s pretty freakin’ good.  Ray Rice is starting to get it going with 97 yards receiving and 83 yards rushing vs. Miami last Sunday and Anquan Boldin has 40 catches for 546 yards and 5 touchdowns in 8 games. 

Why are the stats regarding the Ravens’ offensive players so important?  Because the Falcons’ pass D is downright horrible.  It allows over 250 yards per game.  The defense actually allows 19 points per game and, to be quite honest, the Falcons haven’t played against teams with as good of an offense as Baltimore’s in their last 2 contests, Cincinnati and Tampa Bay.

The Falcons’ D is going to get rocked in this game.  Can Atlanta’s offense keep pace?  The NFL sports book odds on this game says that the answer to that question is a big…maybe.  Falcons’ QB Matt Ryan is very good, but WR Roddy White is only probable in this game and RB Michael Turner might have issues versus Baltimore’s very good run defense. 

Even if White is healthy, the improving Ravens’ pass defense might find a way to keep the QB/WR pair from doing too much damage.  Safety Ed Reed has 3 interceptions on the season and he’s only played in 2 games.  Reed should be healthy for Thursday’s contest after being questionable last week.

I just feel that the Baltimore Ravens have been playing much better in their last 2 games than the Atlanta Falcons have.  To me, the Ravens are the team to back ATS.  I’d suggest that football handicappers jump on the current NFL sports book odds on this game before they start to shift towards favoring the Ravens.

NFL Betting Pick:  Baltimore Ravens -1 -110

NFL sports book odds are up for Week 10 games!