ravens

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Las Vegas - Kick off the NFL playoffs in Houston where the Chargers are a -3 point favorite over the Texans. All signs point to the visiting Lightning Bolts, but we're thinking the other way. Sure Justin Herbert had a better regular season than C.J. Stroud, hitting on 65.9% of his passes for 3,870 yards with 23 TDs and only 3 INTs. Stroud completed 63.2% of his passes for 3,727 yards with 20 TDs and 12 INTs. Sure the Chargers defense was a monster with Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack leading the way, allowing an NFL best 301 points to their opponents. But we have noticed two things after doing our research. L.A. lost six games this season and with the exception of the Steelers game, every other loss was to a team that had a QB that could dance out of the pocket and gobble up some yards. There were two losses to Kansas City with Patrick Mahomes, a loss to Arizona with Kyler Murray, a loss to the Ravens with the BEST dual threat guy in the NFL, Lamar Jackson, and a loss to Tampa Bay with the elusive Baker Mayfield. And we all know that C.J. can move when the pocket collapses. Also gotta take you back to the playoffs last season and tell you that Houston ROCKED the Browns in the opening game at home 45-14. Not gonna go nutzz but will take +3 with the kids from Texas.

In the late game, there are no questions about the winner, it'll be the Ravens, but as always, there are questions about covering the spread. These AFC North rivals met twice this season, with each winning once. In the first matchup, the Steelers hosted the Ravens as a +3 point underdog and squeezed out an 18-16 victory with all the points coming on six field goals. In the second matchup in Baltimore, the Ravens (-7) had no trouble and blew by the Steelers 34-17. Sure Lamar Jackson has had trouble in the playoffs with a 2-4 record, six interceptions and six fumbles. But in my book, Jackson is THE BEST QB in the league. His numbers are SPECDONKULAR! Lamar has hit on 66.7% of his passes for 4,172 yards with an UNREAL 41 TDs and ONLY 4 INTs. And oh by the way, he picked up 915 yards on the ground. And he has a new weapon at RB, Derrick Henry. KING Henry rumbled for 1,921 yards this season and gobbled up 162 against the Steelers in the win at Baltimore. Not thrilled about laying 9.5 or 10, and also not thrilled about the money line which has the Ravens listed at around -$480. If you must, and most of you must, throw only a few chips at Baltimore but not with both hands.

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