The NFL betting lines have moved towards Kansas City for their Sunday playoff game against Baltimore. The Ravens opened as 3-point road favorites but bettors have been taking the Chiefs so the current line has Baltimore as a 2.5 point favorite in NFL lines at the Sbg global sportsbook.
Ravens Have the Edge
Despite what the early bettors are doing against the NFL lines, the Ravens have the edge over Kansas City. Baltimore has the better head coach, the better quarterback and the better defense. Some bettors seem to think that Kansas City has an edge because they are at home and because they can run the ball but Oakland proved last week the home field edge at Arrowhead is overrated and Kansas City is not going to run the ball that well against Baltimore. The only way the Chiefs win the game is if Matt Cassel plays well and do you really want to put money on Cassel against the Baltimore defense? Kansas City’s offensive coordinator Charlie Weis is not even going to be with the team after this year as he is leaving for Florida.
Baltimore Offense vs. Kansas City Defense
If the Ravens shut down the Kansas City offense as is expected then this game comes down to Baltimore’s offense against Kansas City’s defense. The Ravens can run the ball with Ray Rice as they were 14th in the league in rushing yards per game. Joe Flacco is considered a solid quarterback but Baltimore does not throw it that often. The Chiefs were 15th in the league against the run and 17th against the pass.
Public vs. Wise Guys
The public is going to take Baltimore in this game while the wise guys are on the Chiefs. The wise guys played the game early and took Kansas City at plus three. Now before you automatically take the Chiefs you should know that the wise guys don’t always win. In the playoffs they win even less. There are not nearly as many wise guys in sports betting anymore and those that claim to be usually are more talk than action. The wise guys did take the Chiefs in this game but that doesn’t mean Kansas City will win. The Ravens have some definite advantages in this game that makes them worth considering against the NFL betting lines.