Ravens
vs.
Raiders
Week 5
NFL Pick
10/8/17
By: Jason Green
Baltimore Ravens (2-2 SU 2-2 ATS) vs. Oakland Raiders (2-2 SU 2-2 ATS)
After a good start to the season winning their first two Games the Ravens have dropped their last two. After getting throttled in London by the Jacksonville Jaguars for their first loss they returned and were home last week they lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers 26-9. Baltimore has only totaled 16 points in their last two Games while giving up 70 points. They rank dead last in the league in passing yards per Game and tied for 30th in ppg.
At 5 dimes sportsbook the Raiders are a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 39.
The Raiders are in the same boat, as the Ravens winning their first two Games and losing their next two. Their offense has only totaled 10 points in each of their last two Games and starting QB Derek Carr is out for a few weeks with a back injury. Former Buffalo first round pick E.J. Manuel gets the start and looks to help stop the bleeding for Oakland.
These teams met last season in Baltimore where the Raiders beat the Ravens 28-27.
The Ravens lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers 26-9 in their last Game where they were outscored 19-0 in the first half and had almost 100 fewer total yards. Baltimore turned the ball over three times in the Game and their run D was not good to say the least giving up 173 rushing yards. Joe FlACCo did pass for 235 yards with a TD, but he had 2 INT and this season he only has 4 TD to go along with 6 picks.
FlACCo spread the wealth with Four players having at least 36 receiving yards, but Baltimore need to run the ball. In this Game. They have a legit rushing attack and in the Pittsburgh loss Alex Collins rushed for 82 yards for the 2ns straight Games. Look for them to run the ball in this Game facing an Oakland run defense that GAve up 143 rushing yards in their last Game.
In their last Game the Raiders lost to the Denver Broncos 16-10 where they did keep Denver under 300 total yards, but only had 254 yards. After Carr went out Manuel came in and passed for 106 yards with no TD and 1 INT. Michael Crabtree is questionable for this Game and in the last Game his star WR buddy Amari Cooper only had two catches for nine yards. The Raiders did not run the ball well at all only picking up 24 rushing yards.
Manuel will try to fix an Oakland offense that has failed on every 3rd down attempt in the first quarter of their last two Games and is just 2 for their last 32 3rd down conversions.
The Ravens are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 road Games, 4-14-2 ATS in their last 20 Games following a straight up loss, and in their last 5 Games the Under record is 4-1.
The Raiders are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 home Games, 5-2 ATS in their last 7 Games following a straight up loss, and in their last 29 home Games the Over record is 21-6-2.
Jason’s Pick: in the last seven Games between these teams the home team has covered the spread six times and that trend will continue. Manuel was a bust in Buffalo, but his teammates are high on him and he will have a good Game in this one. Oakland will play better against the run and they will keep FlACCo from having a big Game. The Raiders will snap their two-Game losing streak, cover the spread, and send Baltimore to their 3rd straight loss.