Ravens vs. Buccaneers odds, best bets: Tampa Bay seeks home upset on MNF

Ravens vs. Buccaneers Betting Preview

Baltimore Ravens Betting News, Analysis

The 0-2 start by this team feels like a distant memory after impressive wins over Dallas, Buffalo, Cincinnati and Washington.

The combination of Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson has made Baltimore nearly unstoppable, and Jackson has been effective throwing downfield the last two weeks as opposing defenses have committed extra defenders to slowing down Henry.

The Ravens were unstoppable late in 2023, and now that the O-line is playing well after some early-season struggles, the best way to stop this offense is to force turnovers and/or hope for penalties, drops and other self-inflicted Baltimore mistakes.

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Defensively, the Ravens have missed defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald and two of last year’s top defensive assistants, Anthony Weaver and Dennard Wilson. But while this defense isn’t playing as well as it did last year, it did get enough timely stops against the Bengals and Commanders for two crucial wins.

The Ravens D has already had to face Patrick Mahomes, Dak Prescott, Josh Allen, Joe Burrow and Jayden Daniels, and it has another tough test tonight against Baker Mayfield and the Bucs’ potent passing attack.

More favorable matchups are ahead, though: Baltimore will take on Cleveland’s Dorian Thompson-Robinson (or Jameis Winston) in Week 8 and Denver’s Bo Nix in Week 9.

That means that if the Ravens can handle Tampa Bay on Monday night, they will have a great chance to get to 7-2 entering a home Week 10 battle with Cincinnati.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Betting News, Analysis

Mayfield had a career year in his first season as a Buc, and he’s been even better in 2024 for one of the most underrated teams in the league. The former Oklahoma star’s stats (134-for-189 passing for 1,489 yards, 15 TDs and 5 interceptions) have been excellent.

And outside of a disastrous second quarter against the Saints, when he threw three interceptions in four possessions, Mayfield has done an excellent job taking care of the football.

WRs Mike Evans and Chris Godwin give opposing defenses two tough matchups to contend with outside, and the young Bucs O-line has mosly held up in pass pro. This OL did give up five sacks against Detroit and seven against Philly, but has otherwise been solid.

The Bucs have been effective (29.7 points per game, third-best in the NFL) thanks to their balance, as rookie Bucky Irving has sparked a running game that is third in the league in yards per attempt at 5.3.

The Tampa defense has been so-so, as injuries have been an issue since Week 1.

Star safety Antoine Winfield Jr. has played only two games due to injury, but looked like himself in last Sunday’s win over the Saints. Tampa recorded five sacks and forced three turnovers in that bounce-back performance — which also marked starting DL Calijah Kancey’s first appearance of the year — after giving up 500-plus yards of offense to the Falcons in Week 5.

Ravens vs. Buccaneers Prediction, Best Bets

Buccaneers +3.5 — especially in Tampa Bay — would be irresistible against almost every team in the league right now. The Ravens, however, are an offensive machine. Until we see a team manage to slow down Henry without loading up in the box, we expect Baltimore to move up and down the field every week.

Thanks to two forced turnovers and outstanding red zone D, the Bucs survived allowing 463 yards and 26 first downs to the Lions back in Week 2. Still, Tampa’s issues getting off the field against both Detroit and Atlanta make it hard to expect this defense to slow down an offense as versatile and dominant as Baltimore’s.

Mayfield, Godwin and Evans will make enough plays to keep this game relatively close. Still, we’re not betting against Baltimore, which is 17-6 in its last 23 regular-season contests and red-hot right now.

Ravens vs. Buccaneers Best Bets

• Ravens -3.5 (-110 at FanDuel) 1 unit
• Ravens Team Total Over 27.5 (+104 at FD) 1 unit

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