While the Baltimore Ravens clearly were better than mediocre in many ways last season, they often underachieved at the worst possible time, as was the case in their season-ending 31-27 home loss to Cincinnati. That crushing Week 17 loss against their longtime AFC North division rivals ruined what was an otherwise solid season for the Ravens and kept them out of the playoffs a year ago.
Now, as they get set for the start of the upcoming 2018 regular season, Baltimore is hoping to get back in the postseason in a big way and anything less will be considered a failure. Whether the Ravens do reach their goal of making the playoffs in 2018 or not, there are a bunch of intriguing games on their docket that have the look of must-see TV and must-bet matchups that football fans and betting enthusiasts everywhere just shouldn’t miss out on.
Thanks to my fun-filled look at six games that I believe are must-wager affairs, you’ll be able to increase your chances of cashing in on each contest. Let’s get started with the NFL betting guide
Baltimore Ravens 2018 NFL Betting Guide
The Ravens’ offseason WR moves that drew buzz came in free agency with the addition of a trio of key veterans.
But, there are a few other newcomers in the position group that you shouldn’t overlook.
📰: https://t.co/9JayQ4386D pic.twitter.com/e8P2ge3KPr
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) June 26, 2018
Week 1: Sunday, Sept. 9, vs. Buffalo Bills, 1 PM ET
Baltimore has gone 5-1 in six regular season home openers at M&T Bank Stadium and their 2018 opener looks like a cakewalk win against a Buffalo Bills team that will either be completely awful or mediocre at best, depending on how much you like the longtime AFC East residents. The Bills will have a brand new starting quarterback in either veteran, A.J. McCarron or second-year signal-caller Nathan Peterman while waiting on 2018 first round draft pick Josh Allen to mature into the franchise signal-caller they’re hoping he’ll become. No matter who starts for the Bills, they’re not likely to have much success against a Baltimore defense that ranked sixth in points allowed a year ago. The ravens win this one going away!
NFL Betting Pick: Baltimore 27 Buffalo 14
Week 2: Thursday, Sept. 13, at Cincinnati Bengals, 8:20 PM ET
The Ravens will be looking to extract some revenge for their season-ending loss to Cincinnati, but they’re not getting it in this Week 2 matchup against their NFC North divisional rivals. Quarterback Joe Flacco has been completely awful in nine road dates against Cincy by tossing a whopping 13 picks against just six touchdowns for a miserable 61.8 passer rating. Believe it or not, the strong-armed Flacco has thrown for over 200 yards in Cincinnati only once in his career. The Ravens fall to the Bengals again.
NFL Betting Pick: Cincinnati 27 Baltimore 23
Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 4, vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, 1:00 PM ET
The Ravens got swept by the Steelers during the regular season a year ago and they also got embarrassed in their humbling 26-9 Week 4 home loss against Pittsburgh. The good news is that they haven’t dropped two in a row at home against the Steelers since 2001-02. Baltimore will get the home win in this one as part of a regular season split with the Steelers.
NFL Betting Pick: Baltimore 21 Pittsburgh 20
Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 18, vs. Cincinnati Bengals, 1:00 PM ET
After getting knocked out of the playoffs last season and then losing to Cincinnati in their Week 2 meeting, Baltimore will be fed up with falling to their division rivals and they’ll respond accordingly. The Ravens win by at least a touchdown in this one!
NFL Betting Pick: Baltimore 27 Cincinnati 20
Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 9, at Kansas City Chiefs, 1:00 PM ET
Did you know that Baltimore has gone 20-8 against rookie or second-year quarterbacks under coach John Harbaugh? Unfortunately, this looks like one of those contests that Baltimore is going to lose against a young signal-caller if only because the Chiefs are difficult to beat at home and Patrick Mahomes will be much further along in his maturation by the time this week 14 matchup rolls around.
NFL Betting Pick: Kansas City 27 Baltimore 24
Week 17: Sunday, Dec. 30, vs. Cleveland Browns, 1:00 PM ET
If you’re looking for a virtual lock on Baltimore’s 2018 schedule, then look no further. The Ravens have beaten the Browns in nine of their last 10 home matchups and this regular season finale will almost assuredly be another.
NFL Betting Pick: Baltimore 28 Cleveland 20
