Who will win the Battle of the Beltway in NFL Week 4: the Washington Football Team or the Baltimore Ravens?
Virginia football fans absolutely adore both franchises, which are only 50 miles apart.
According to the latest NFL betting odds, the Baltimore Ravens (2-1) are heavily favored to secure a convincing victory over the Washington Football Team (1-2). The betting lines further indicate that this Sunday’s game, scheduled for 1 p.m. on CBS, will likely feature a low-scoring contest at Washington’s home stadium, FedExField, in Landover, MD.
Is it possible that the oddsmakers have it correct?
In January, we can expect the launch of VA sportsbooks, so let’s dive right in and examine the matchup and what lies ahead.
Washington Football Team vs. Baltimore Ravens odds
This week, the Ravens kicked off as significant 13-point favorites against the Football Team.
Throughout the week, Baltimore has garnered the majority of wagers and betting funds, yet the spread has remained relatively stagnant.
At most sportsbooks, Baltimore is listed around -750 on the moneyline, while Washington offers a comeback at +550.
Originally, the total score for the game was set at 45. However, the over/under line began at 47, but knowledgeable bettors swiftly influenced its decrease by a couple of points.
Why is there such a significant difference in the spread and moneyline for this game? What makes Baltimore such a dominant favorite, even being the largest favorite (alongside the Los Angeles Rams against the New York Giants) in Week 4? Especially considering they are playing away from home?
After suffering 34-20 losses in their previous games, the Baltimore Ravens faced the reigning Super Bowl champions, the Kansas City Chiefs, during Monday Night Football. In contrast, the Washington team had a disappointing defeat against the Cleveland Browns, who are considered to be of lower standing. Notably, Washington’s loss was compounded by a late-game meltdown, resulting in them being outscored 17-0 in the fourth quarter.
In general, Baltimore has a 2-1 record against the spread this season, whereas Washington has a 1-2 ATS record. Nevertheless, it is important to mention that Baltimore has won all of its past five games as a road favorite, which will be the case on Sunday.
Washington vs. Baltimore breakdown
What strategies will the Baltimore Ravens and Washington Football Team employ to bounce back after their Week 3 defeats? Based on the current odds, Baltimore is expected to have a comparatively smoother path to recovery.
The significant disparity in talent between these two teams is evident in this week’s substantial 13-point line.
In 2020, Baltimore’s quarterback Lamar Jackson has showcased exceptional performance. His pass completion rate stands at an impressive 70%, and he consistently delivers an average of 252.7 passing yards per game. Notably, Jackson has achieved five touchdowns without a single interception. Moreover, he has emerged as the top rusher for the team, accumulating 182 yards through 32 carries, resulting in an impressive average of 5.7 yards per carry.
The remaining workload will be divided among running backs Gus Edwards, Mark Ingram II, and J.K. Dobbins. Together, they have been averaging an impressive 5.9 yards per carry this year. Moreover, the kicker Justin Tucker has been flawless, successfully converting all 7 field goals and 10 extra points attempted.
On the other hand, Washington is in need of improved performance from their second-year quarterback, Dwayne Haskins, who struggled with three interceptions against the Browns. Additionally, their supporting cast must step up and provide assistance. Overall, Washington currently possesses the third least-productive offense in the entire NFL.
Virginia’s other NFL Week 4 matchups of note
Virginia football fans can look forward to an exciting lineup of games in NFL Week 4 for their beloved teams.
Arizona Cardinals at Carolina Panthers (+3.5)
Despite the initial preference of casual bettors for the Arizona Cardinals (2-1), who were initially favored by 5 points, the Carolina Panthers (1-2) have gained significant support from experienced bettors ahead of their NFC matchup on Sunday at 1 p.m. on Fox. The substantial wagers placed on Carolina have caused the line to decrease to +3 or +3.5 for the Panthers at most sportsbooks.
Both Kyler Murray from the Cardinals and Teddy Bridgewater from the Panthers have been consistently achieving over 300 receiving yards per game this season. Nevertheless, both teams have encountered some challenges in their defensive play. As a result, the total for Sunday’s game has been set at 51 by oddsmakers and bettors, indicating the anticipation of a high-scoring match.
Once more, the Panthers are faced with the challenge of compensating for the absence of running back Christian McCaffrey, who is sidelined due to a high ankle sprain. In his place, Mike Davis will once again take on the responsibility of carrying the ball. Additionally, it is likely that receivers Robby Anderson, who has accumulated 278 yards in 2020, and DJ Moore, with 239 yards, will continue to be actively involved in the game.
Pittsburgh Steelers at Tennessee Titans (n/a)
Due to a COVID-19 outbreak among Titans players and staff, the highly anticipated Week 4 matchup between the undefeated Pittsburgh Steelers (3-0) and the Tennessee Titans (3-0) in Nashville had to be canceled by NFL officials.
At first, officials expressed optimism about rescheduling the game for either Monday or Tuesday. However, due to additional testing failures, the NFL was forced to cancel the game entirely for this week. While an official makeup date has not been announced, it is now probable that the game will be rescheduled during the midseason.
Pittsburgh, led by the resurgent quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, was favored by 2 points against Tennessee at most sportsbooks prior to the cancellation. Tennessee, with quarterback Ryan Tannehill, running back Derrick Henry, and tight end Jonnu Smith, aimed to maintain their strong start.
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