NFL Picks: Ravens vs. Raiders Best Bets for Monday Night Football
The final game of Week 1 in the NFL will kick off tonight between the Baltimore Ravens and the Las Vegas Raiders.
The Raiders are currently four-point home underdogs on WynnBET, but they’ll face a depleted Ravens team that has lost J.K. Dobbins, Gus Edwards and Marcus Peters all to torn ACLs in the past few weeks.
That leaves the Ravens with Ty’Son Williams, Latavius Murray, Le’Veon Bell and Devonta Freeman as potential replacements in the backfield, but oddsmakers still seem confident that Lamar Jackson and company can come away with the win.
Our editors went a perfect 4-0 (!!) on their best bets for Week 1, and we’re back with some more picks for tonight’s game, with all odds via WynnBET.
Raiders (+4.0) to Cover vs. Ravens (-110)
The Ravens are one of the most public bets this week and I have to go against them. The Raiders certainly aren't a good team, but they're a better team than a lot of people think, especially on offense.They ranked eighth in yards per game, ninth in completion percentage, and sixth in third down conversion rate in 2020.
The Raiders will need to score to keep pace with the Ravens, because Baltimore should have no issue moving the ball against this Las Vegas defense.
This game reminds me a lot of last year's Week 2 Monday Night Football game when the Raiders upset the New Orleans Saints in a stunner at home. I'm not brave enough to take the moneyline in this spot, but I'll take the Raiders and the points especially considering it's above that magic number of three. -- Iain MacMillan
Henry Ruggs III OVER 35.5 Receiving Yards (-125)
Henry Ruggs III was the first receiver selected in a loaded receiver class last season, but he disappointed for the Raiders totaling just 26 catches for 452 yards in 13 games.
However, the Raiders aren’t going to just give up on the former No. 12 overall pick. Ruggs is listed as the team’s No. 1 wideout on its depth chart and he has an attainable player prop for receiving yards in Week 1 at just 35.5.
Ruggs hit the over on that number five times last season, averaging 34.8 yards per game and 17.4 yards per reception. The Raiders released John Brown this offseason, who is another deep threat, which tells me that Ruggs is ready to assume a bigger role this year.
After injuries and a stint on the COVID-19 list slowed Ruggs as a rookie, I think he’s due to bounce back in an offense that finished with the seventh-most passing yards in the league in 2020. Someone has to catch the ball from Derek Carr, and I expect Ruggs to be one of the leaders in Week 1 and beyond. -- Peter Dewey
Mark Andrews Anytime Touchdown Scorer (+100)
Throughout his career, Lamar Jackson has found his best success throwing to Andrews in the red zone. That was before the Ravens running back corps was decimated with injuries. With the Ravens looking to move the ball through the air more with the uncertainty at running back, I expect them to be in the red zone at least five times in this game, which gives Andrews that many opportunities to take advantage. -- Brian Giuffra
Ravens (-4.0) to Cover vs. Raiders (-110)
It has been a brutal few weeks for Baltimore, who has lost the top three running backs on its depth chart as well as playmaking cornerback Marcus Peters. However, the line has sat at four this entire time and I'm sticking with the road team. Head coach John Harbaugh 10-3 in Week 1 and I see a massive advantage in this department against Raiders head coach Jon Gruden.
While the Ravens are banged up already, I see Wink Martindale's blitz-heavy scheme spelling trouble for an inexperienced Raiders offensive line that lost three starters in the offseason and may be down another in Richie Incognito. Factor that in with running back Josh Jacobs' lack of practice time this week due to injury and illness, it could be a long night for the Vegas offense. -- Reed Wallach
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