Baltimore Ravens vs. Buffalo Bills, 9/9/18 NFL Predictions & Odds

Bills vs. Ravens Prediction

Can the Baltimore Ravens open the season at home with a lopsided win over the new-look Buffalo Bills today at 1PM ET?

Game Snapshot & Odds

459 Buffalo Bills at 460 Baltimore Ravens

Sunday, September 9, 2018

1PM ET – M&T Bank Stadium

TV: CBS

Compare odds and from multiple different online sportsbooks and shop for the best lines at our new NFL Odds & Betting Page.

Public Betting Trends

According to oddsmakers at BetNow.eu, the Ravens are favored at home in this game, as they are getting odds of -7.5 points against the Bills. The over/under total for the contest is listed at 40 points. The public betting for this game currently has 75 percent going on Baltimore at home. This information is subject to change, however, so be sure to check out our NFL Public Betting Page for updated figures on the game.

Ravens continue with Harbaugh

The Baltimore Ravens went 9-7 last year, but lost the Wild Card tiebreaker to the Bills. Baltimore lost its finale at home to the Cincinnati Bengals to cost it the playoff spot. The Ravens were 8-7-1 against the spread and 9-7 with the over. John Harbaugh enters his 11^th season as head coach. He is 94-66 overall with the Ravens, but has missed the playoffs four of the last five years.

The Ravens were pretty solid on defense again last year, allowing just 18.9 points and 325.1 yards per game. However, their offense struggled to put up yards. They averaged just 305.4 yards per game despite scoring 24.7 per contest. Joe Flacco will be the starting QB once again despite a lackluster 2017. Flacco threw for 3,141 yards and 18 touchdowns with 13 interceptions. He has a whole new lot of receivers, as the Ravens brought in Michael Crabtree, John Brown and Willie Snead in the offseason. Alex Collins nearly rushed for 1,000 yards and last and had six rushing touchdowns. The defense returns its stud linebackers C.J. Mosley and Terrell Suggs. Mosley had 132 tackles while Suggs had 11 sacks.

Bills change around offense

The Buffalo Bills were a surprise entrant in the 2017 NFL playoffs last season after going 9-7 and earning a Wild Card berth. The Bills then lost 10-3 at Jacksonville in the opening round of the playoffs to finish 9-8 overall. Buffalo was 10-6-1 against the spread and 9-8 with the under. Sean McDermott enters his second season as head coach of the Bills.

Buffalo didn’t have a great offense last year, averaging just 18.9 points and 302.6 yards per game. They had a passing attack that put up just 176.6 yards per game. After being led by Tyrod Taylor last season, Buffalo is starting Nathan Peterman at quarterback this year. He had just 252 passing yards with five interceptions and two touchdowns last season. Rookie Josh Allen will back him up. LeSean McCoy returns after rushing for 1,138 yards and six touchdowns and catching 59 passes for 448 yards. Defensively, Buffalo allowed 22.4 points and 355.1 yards per game. The Bills tried to address their defense in the draft and through signing defensive tackle Star Lotulelei. He has 11.5 sacks in his five-year NFL career.

NFL Betting Trends

Baltimore

The Ravens are 7-3 against the spread in their last 10 season openers, but just 2-5 ATS in their last seven home games.

Buffalo

The Bills have covered the spread in four straight games in September and in four of their last five season openers.

Prediction:

The Bills were a disaster in their lone game that Peterman started last year and I don’t think he has improved a great deal since then. It will be a lot to ask to perform well on the road against this Baltimore defense. The Ravens have also added in a lot of new pieces on offense and Joe Flacco has more motivation to perform well with rookie Lamar Jackson waiting in the wings. I expect Baltimore to look really good in this opener and dominate the Bills.

 

NFL Prediction: Baltimore Ravens -7.5

Related: Bills vs. Ravens Total Prediction