Will the Washington Football Team or the Baltimore Ravens emerge victorious in NFL Week 4 when they meet in the Battle of the Beltway?
Just 50 miles separate the two franchises, which are some of Virginia football fans’ favorite teams.
The current NFL betting odds suggest Baltimore (2-1) will win convincingly over Washington (1-2). The betting lines also suggest it’ll be a low-scoring affair when they meet on Sunday (1 p.m., CBS) at Washington’s home stadium of FedExField in Landover, MD.
However, do the oddsmakers have it right?
Let’s jump in to look at the matchup and what we can expect. VA sportsbooks will begin to launch in January.
Washington Football Team vs. Baltimore Ravens odds
The Ravens opened as substantial 13-point favorites over the Football Team this week.
Since then, Baltimore has received most of the bets and betting dollars, but the spread hasn’t budged much throughout the week.
On the moneyline, Baltimore is in the neighborhood of -750 at most sportsbooks. The comeback on Washington is +550.
The total for the game is 45. That over/under line, though, initially opened at 47 before savvy bettors were quick to push it down a few points.
So, why such a wide spread and moneyline in this game? Why is Baltimore such a massive favorite – and, in fact, the biggest favorite (along with the Los Angeles Rams over the New York Giants) in all of Week 4? Especially on the road?
Both teams are coming off of 34-20 losses. However, Baltimore’s defeat (during Monday Night Football) came to the reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs. But Washington? Their loss came to the lowly Cleveland Browns, and it also included a late-game meltdown that saw Washington outscored 17-0 in the fourth quarter.
Overall, Baltimore is 2-1 against the spread this season, while Washington is 1-2 ATS. However, it’s worth noting that Baltimore is 5-0 in its past five games as a road favorite, as it will be on Sunday.
Washington vs. Baltimore breakdown
How will the Baltimore Ravens and Washington Football Team rebound from their Week 3 losses? According to the current odds, Baltimore should have a much easier time of it.
This week’s massive 13-point line represents the substantial gap in talent between these two teams.
Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson has been downright solid early in 2020. He’s completing nearly 70% of his passes, and he’s averaging 252.7 passing yards per game. Jackson is also posted five touchdowns with no interceptions. He’s also the team’s leading rusher with 182 yards on 32 carries (5.7 yards/carry).
Running backs Gus Edwards, Mark Ingram II and J.K. Dobbins will split the remaining workload. Combined, they’re averaging 5.9 yards/carry this year. Additionally, kicker Justin Tucker has been perfect with field goals (7-for-7) and extra points (10-for-10).
Washington, meanwhile, needs a little more production out of second-year quarterback Dwayne Haskins, who threw three interceptions against the Browns. He also needs some help from his supporting cast. All told, Washington has the third least-productive offense in the NFL.
Virginia’s other NFL Week 4 matchups of note
Here’s what NFL Week 4 offers for Virginia football fans’ other favorite NFL teams:
Arizona Cardinals at Carolina Panthers (+3.5)
Although casual bettors seem to prefer the Arizona Cardinals (2-1), who opened as 5-point favorites, the sharps have hammered the Carolina Panthers (1-2) ahead of the NFC meeting on Sunday (1 p.m., Fox). As a result of the big bets on Carolina, that line has diminished to +3 or +3.5 for the Panthers at most sportsbooks.
The game’s two quarterbacks, the Cardinals’ Kyler Murray and the Panthers’ Teddy Bridgewater are both averaging more than 300 receiving yards per game this season. However, both teams have had some defensive struggles. That’s resulted in a total for Sunday’s game of 51, which means that oddsmakers and bettors expect the teams to put some points on the board.
The Panthers again have to overcome the absence of running back Christian McCaffrey (high ankle sprain). Mike Davis will again get some carries in McCaffrey’s absence. Expect receivers Robby Anderson (278 yards in 2020) and DJ Moore (239 yards) to remain busy, as well.
Pittsburgh Steelers at Tennessee Titans (n/a)
Two of the AFC’s three remaining undefeated teams were poised for a can’t-miss Week 4 matchup. Unfortunately, NFL officials were forced to cancel Sunday’s Pittsburgh Steelers (3-0) vs. Tennessee Titans (3-0) game in Nashville due to a COVID-19 outbreak among Titans players and staffers.
Initially, officials hoped they could reschedule the game for Monday or Tuesday. However, after more testing failures, the NFL had to pull the plug completely on this week. Officials haven’t announced an exact makeup date, though something midseason is now likely.
Before the cancellation, Pittsburgh, who’s led by resurgent quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, was a 2-point favorite against Tennessee at most sportsbooks. Tennessee looked to continue its hot start behind quarterback Ryan Tannehill, running back Derrick Henry and tight end Jonnu Smith.
