NFL Spread Betting – Ravens Looking Like Strong Play To End Chiefs’ Dream Season

I don’t know how else to say it BetOnline gridiron gamblers – but the stingy, veteran-laden Baltimore Ravens (12-4 SU, 8-7-1 ATS) are looking like very strong NFL spread betting selection to bring the Kansas City Chiefs’ (10-6 SU, 9-7 ATS) dream season to a swift end when the two AFC rivals square off at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday at 1:00 PM ET.

Talk about an old-school kind of matchup BetOnline gridiron gamblers and this game could turn out to be just with the Chiefs leading the NFL in rushing this season and Baltimore ranking fifth in rushing yards allowed.

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Sunday, January 9, 1:00 PM ET

Baltimore at Kansas City

Live from Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, MO

TV: CBS

Radio: Sirius 125 and 123

NFL Betting Odds

Baltimore Ravens -3

Over/Under 40.5

Here is a look at the key head-to-head trends surrounding this matchup.

• Road team is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 meetings.

Baltimore 411

• Ravens are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following an ATS loss.
• Ravens are 4-1-1 ATS in their last 6 road games.
• Ravens are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 Wildcard games.
• Ravens are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 playoff road games.
• Ravens are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games as a road favorite of 0.5-3.0.
• Ravens are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games in January.

The Baltimore Ravens finished up their 2010 regular season on a very nice run by winning each of their final four games and six of its last eight games overall. While the Ravens only average 22.3 points per game on offense (16th) they did manage to top three times in their final six wins while holding the opposition to 10 points or less in an identical three ballgames.

The Ravens also haven’t been any slouches when it comes to cashing in against the NFL spread betting line as they compiled an impressive 4-1-1 ATS in their last six road games and a nearly perfect 4-1 against the online NFL spread betting odds in their last five Wild Card games.

Lest anyone forget, Ravens’ veteran safety Ed Reed picked off a whopping eight passes in just 10 games this season to lead the league for the third time in the last seven seasons.

Reed sat out of Baltimore’s first half-dozen games while recuperating from offseason surgery and gives the Ravens a huge edge defensively as he is undoubtedly one of the best defensive playmakers in the game today despite his slightly advancing age.

Baltimore also has a Pro Bowl kicker in Billy Cundiff who made 26 of 29 field goals and tied a league record with 40 touchbacks while quarterback Joe Flacco had a nice, if not overly impressive third season at the helm of Baltimore’s offense. The strong-armed signal caller completed 62.5 percent of his passes this season for 3,622 yards with 25 TDs and just 10 interceptions.

Kansas City 411

• Chiefs are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games following a S.U. loss.
• Chiefs are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as an underdog of 0.5-3.0.
• Chiefs are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games as an underdog.
• Chiefs are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games in January.
• Chiefs are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 vs. AFC.
• Chiefs are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.

Kansas had an absolutely magical season this year in reaching 10 victories and winning the AFC West. Cerebral quarterback Matt Cassel also had a fine 2010 campaign though he certainly didn’t get much national recognition for his achievements.

Cassel completed just 58.2 percent of his passes for 3,116 yards, but tossed a fantastic 27 TD passes and just seven interceptions along the way to keep the Chiefs’ in just about every single game this season.

Unfortunately, Cassel didn’t look very good in Kansas City’s regular season finale as he tossed two picks in the Chiefs’ 31-10 home loss to Oakland in a contest where they could have improved their playoff seeding no less.

The good news for K.C. NFL spread betting backers is the fact that the Chiefs had the league’s top-ranked rushing attack this season thanks to the talents of third-year back Jamaal Charles (1,467 yds, 6.4 ypc) and veteran running back Thomas Jones (896 yds, 3.7 ypc).

While Baltimore has a huge edge in postseason experience in this Wild Card Weekend matchup, the Chiefs apparently aren’t going to go down without a fight as they have compiled an impressive 6-1 against the NFL spread betting odds in their last seven games following an SU loss and a nearly unblemished 4-1 ATS mark in their last five games as an underdog of three points or less.

Predictions: The only key head-to-head trend surrounding this matchup points to a solid Baltimore Ravens payday against the NFL spread betting odds – and even though I’m not real impressed with Baltimore’s offense, I believe they are the correct pick to cash in against the NFL spread betting odds by the narrowest of margins in what turns out to be a tight, low-scoring affair.

The Road team in this series has recorded a nearly perfect 4-1 ATS mark against the NFL spread betting line in the last five meetings while Baltimore has posted a bankroll-boosting 7-3 ATS mark in their last 10 playoff road games.

The Ravens also ranked third in points allowed by holding their opponents to just 16.9 points per game while also ranking fifth against the run (93.9 ypg).

In spite of their impressive 7-2 ATS mark in their last nine games as an underdog, the Chiefs have gone just 1-6 ATS in their last seven games against their AFC rivals while also going 0-4 ATS in their last four home games against a team with a winning road record.

I hate to see Kansas City’s dream season come to an end BetOnline NFL spread betting enthusiasts, but I say that’s just what the Baltimore Ravens will do as they cash in against the NFL spread betting line as a 3-point road favorite.

With the Under going 4-1 in Baltimore’s last five Wild Card games and an identical 4-1 in Kansas City’s last five home games, I also like the Under to play out for BetOnline NFL spread betting gamblers in this matchup.

NFL Betting Picks: Baltimore Ravens -3 Points/Under 40.5 Total Points