The Baltimore Ravens are on a hot streak; well at least by their 2013 standards they are. Winners of three consecutive games and four of their last five, the defending Super Bowl champions pull into Motown on Monday night with big opportunities to follow up on, and the question is, can they? They lock horns with the Detroit Lions in football betting action that is slated to begin at 8:40 PM ET at Ford Field (an indoor venue).
The Lions are hopeful of not squandering a golden opportunity of their own, as their chief competitors in the NFC North – the Bears and Packers – both had to play for a while without their starting quarterbacks. They are at 7-6 and are trying to avoid falling into third place in a division they appeared ready to take into their own control.
In the football betting odds posted on this game at BetAnySports, the Lions are the favorites at home:
Football Betting Odds Courtesy of BetAnySports USA Online Sportsbook
Detroit Lions -4.5
Baltimore Ravens +4.5
Over 49 Points -110
Under 49 Points -110
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Obviously the public has placed some value on the Ravens, as this line has dipped form six points, where it was earlier in the day, to 4.5, and that is a huge movement on the day of a game.
From one perspective, it is not hard for pro football bettors to see value in Baltimore. After all, they have won three games in a row. They have heavy incentive here, because they can win the AFC North without help from anybody if they simply win their final three games. and by virtue of a win over Miami, they can get the tie-breaker edge for the #6 AFC seed if it comes down to it.
Reggie Bush, who missed last week’s snow-filled game at Philadelphia, where the Lions led 8-0 at the half and then allowed 28 fourth-quarter points to blow it, is supposed to play here, although that could always change, depending on his pre-game warmup. On the Baltimore side, Elvis Dumervil, who the Ravens want to team up with Terrell Suggs to put pressure on Detroit QB Matthew Stafford, is listed as questionable, which means that something significant would have to happen for him not to play.
The pass rushers will have a formidable task, as the Lions have protected Stafford exceedingly well, allowing him to be sacked only 15 times as he’s throwing to people like Calvin Johnson (1348 yards on 75 receptions). Bush provides their best shot at balance.
What could be the most powerful driver in the football betting interest at BetAnySports in Baltimore is the status of Detroit’s secondary. The Lions are already rather permissive back there (allowing 7.7 yards per pass), but they could be playing without cornerbacks Chris Houston and Darius Slay, who are listed as doubtful. Joe Flacco may be having a so-so season (18 TD’s, 17 INT’s) but he is capable of exploiting a defense that doesn’t have depth in defending the pass. Baltimore’s leading receiver is Torrey Smith, who’s got 55 catches for 963 yards.