Ravens-Browns best bets: All aboard the Baltimore bandwagon
Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.
A massive AFC North tilt graces Monday Night Football, with a pair of wild-card hopefuls in the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns meeting in Ohio.
We seem to be aligned in how we're looking to bet this one.
Alex Kolodziej
Ravens -3
I don't trust Baker Mayfield in this spot. He's benefited from an easy schedule recently, facing five units that rank No. 24 or worse in the league in DVOA defense during the last six games.
The Ravens rank No. 7 in that category and are back on the upswing following a dominant win against the Dallas Cowboys. John Harbaugh is a great bet late in the year with six straight covers in December, so I'll lay the chalk.
Alex Moretto
Ravens -3
Admittedly, the value has quickly disappeared with this line moving to three, but I'll still lay it with the Ravens.
I agree that we can't trust Mayfield in this spot. He's playing better and coming off a huge game, but it's worth wondering whether that was a product of the signal-caller growing into this offense or of Kevin Stefanski scheming wide-open looks against a rather abysmal Tennessee Titans defense.
For me, it's the latter. Mayfield is getting a Baltimore defense that hasn't played to its usual standards but is getting healthy. The Ravens have faced a mix of weird scheduling and COVID-19 issues, and though some are writing them off, I'd rather buy in.
This is almost a must-win for Baltimore given the sheer congestion in the wild-card race, while Cleveland has some breathing room. We still haven't seen Mayfield put in even a respectable performance against a good defense, and he won't correct that trend against a feisty Ravens front. The cream tends to rise to the top in December, and Baltimore fits the billing.
C Jackson Cowart
Mark Andrews over 3.5 receptions (-130)
It's been a disappointing year for Andrews - and he's missed the team's last two games - but this is an ideal spot for a bounce-back performance. The Ravens' top target recorded 12 receptions during his last two games and has logged at least three catches in eight of his 10 contests this year - including a five-catch effort in Week 1 against the Browns.
Cleveland has struggled to contain tight ends all year, ranking in the bottom three in average targets allowed (8.33) and receptions allowed (5.75) to opposing tight ends. Expect Andrews to be used early and often in his return.
(Odds source: theScore Bet)