NFC Championship Game Best Bet: Expect Lamar Jackson, Ravens to Start Hot Against Chiefs
The Baltimore Ravens will look to get out to a fast start on Sunday afternoon when they host the Kansas City Chiefs. Can Lamar Jackson propel the Ravens to an early lead in the AFC Championship game? Ben Rajavuori analyzes the first half and provides a pick in Chiefs vs. Ravens.
Ben Rajavuori - January 28, 2024, 12:30 PM EST
5 minNFC Championship Game Best Bet: Expect Lamar Jackson, Ravens to Start Hot Against Chiefs
The number one seed in the AFC hosts the Kansas City Chiefs today in Baltimore in the AFC Championship game. The Ravens enter as the top team in the AFC, but it is almost impossible to count Patrick Mahomes out in these types of games in the playoffs. This is only the 12th time in Mahomes' career that he will be an underdog, and it is only the second time he will be playing a true road game in the playoffs in his career. with Mahomes catching points for a second straight week, can he do it again and prove he should never be an underdog?
Chiefs vs. Ravens Date, Time, and Where to Watch
- Date: January 28, 2024
- Game Time: 3:00 pm ET
- Where to Watch: CBS
Chiefs vs. Ravens Odds
- Spread: Chiefs +4 (-110), Ravens -4 (-105)
- Total Odds: O 46 (+109), U 46 (-110)
- Moneyline Odds: Chiefs (+175), Ravens (-198)
Kansas City Chiefs vs. Baltimore Ravens Prediction
The defending champions are just one game away from the Super Bowl once again. If Mahomes and the Chiefs win this game, it will be his fourth Super Bowl appearance in the last five seasons. While the Chiefs had a tumultuous season coming into the playoffs, they have reversed the narrative amongst NFL fans, and many believe the Chiefs can cover the number today. While I am less certain about the full-game spread, I have a more confident play for the first-half spread. The Ravens got the bye over wildcard weekend and came out very slow in the Houston Texans game last week. The Ravens did not score a touchdown in the first quarter and ended the half with just 10 points, going into the halftime break tied 10–10 with the Texans. However, when they came out of the tunnel for the second half, they looked like the Ravens team we had seen all season. They held the Texans scoreless in the second half and put up 24 points to win 34 to 10. I think that the extra rest with sitting in week 18 and then having a bye week over the wildcard weekend affected the Ravens in the first half of that game, as they had to work into the game before dominating the second half and looking like the team we know they are. Now, they are on a normal week of rest for this game at home against Kansas City. Therefore, I think they will come out stronger in the first half than they did in the first half of the Texans game. The other reason I like the first-half spread for the Ravens is because the Chiefs have been the most dominant second-half defense in the entire NFL all season and even into the playoffs. The Chiefs are allowing an NFL-low seven points on average in the second half to opponents this season. The Dolphins failed to score a single point in the second half of the game on wildcard weekend, and the Bills put up just seven points last week in the second half against the Chiefs. Steve Spagnuolo is perhaps one of the best second-half adjustment coaches in the NFL, and he knows how to adjust on the fly in games to get stops. Because of this, I think Lamar and the Ravens will have a field day on the ground in the first half, Before Spagnuolo and the defense start to make adjustments and get to Lamar in the second half.
The Ravens have allowed just 7.2 points in the first half on average this season, which leads the NFL. The Ravens are also 4th in first-half offense. The Chiefs are first overall in second-half defense. With the Ravens getting a slow start last week off the bye, I like Lamar and the offense to get going earlier in this game. I think the Ravens are up a touchdown or more at halftime. 13-6 at half.
Pick: Ravens First Half -3.5 (-105) Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds
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