The 2024 NFL season officially gets underway on Thursday, September 5. The Kansas City Chiefs will host the Baltimore Ravens in the 2024 NFL Kickoff game, the first matchup on the Week 1 NFL schedule. The Chiefs will hang another banner at Arrowhead Stadium while their conference foes will try to kill the positive vibes. Last season in the season opener, the Detroit Lions came into Arrowhead Stadium and knocked off the Chiefs, 21-20, although Kansas City was without star tight end Travis Kelce and defensive tackle Chris Jones.
Kickoff from GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., is set for 8:20 p.m. ET. Kansas City is a 3-point favorite in the latest Ravens vs. Chiefs odds via SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is 46.5. Before locking in any Ravens vs. Chiefs picks, make sure to check out the NFL predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine expert Larry Hartstein.
A former lead writer for Covers and The Linemakers, Hartstein combines a vast network of Vegas sources with an analytical approach he honed working for Pro Football Focus. He tied for 52nd place (out of 1,598 entries) in the 2022 Westgate Las Vegas SuperContest, going 53-34-3 ATS. Hartstein’s weekly Vegas contest selections form the basis of his NFL best bets column, which is 79-48-2 (62.2%, +25.95 units) since its inception in 2022. He’s also 33-21 (+955) on his last 54 ATS NFL picks involving the Chiefs. Anyone who has followed him is way up.
Now, Hartstein has locked in on Chiefs vs. Ravens and just revealed his coveted NFL picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see his picks. Here are several NFL odds and NFL betting lines on the spread, money line, and over-under for Ravens vs. Chiefs:
- Chiefs vs. Ravens spread: Chiefs -3
- Chiefs vs. Ravens over/under: 46.5 points
- Chiefs vs. Ravens money line: Chiefs -151, Ravens +127
- BAL: Ravens have won five consecutive road games
- KC: Chiefs have won the last two home meetings with Baltimore
- Chiefs vs. Ravens picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why the Chiefs can cover
The Chiefs wanted to add more speed to stretch the field more in 2024, and they did exactly that in the NFL Draft. In the first round, Kansas City added wide receiver Xavier Worthy. He turned heads at the NFL Scouting Combine when he ran a 4.21 40-yard dash. Regardless, Worthy runs a strong route tree and can create separation. In three seasons at the University of Texas, he logged 197 catches for 2,755 receiving yards, and 26 touchdowns.
Receiver Justin Watson is another playmaker that Kansas City has at their disposal. Watson uses his strong hands to bring down the football and tracks the ball well. In 2023, he recorded 27 catches for a career-high 460 yards and three touchdowns. Watson tallied five games with at least 50 yards last season. See who to back at SportsLine.
Why the Ravens can cover
The Ravens make life difficult for opposing teams on both sides of the ball. Baltimore has a suffocating defense that makes it hard for offenses to get into a rhythm. Last season, the Ravens were ranked sixth in total defense (301.4) and pass defense (191.9). Additionally, they were first in the league in points allowed per game (16.5).
Defensive tackle Justin Madubuike is an impactful force on the defensive front. Madubuike wreaks havoc in the backfield as both a run-stuffer and pass-rusher. The 26-year-old was ninth in the league in sacks (13) with 56 total tackles and 12 tackles for loss in 2023. Safety Kyle Hamilton lines up all over the field as a stout pass defender and isn’t scared to pull up as a tackler in the run game. Last year, the Notre Dame product was third on the squad in total tackles (81) with 13 pass breakups, four interceptions, and three sacks. See who to back at SportsLine.
How to make Chiefs vs. Ravens picks
Hartstein is leaning Over the total. He’s also found a critical x-factor he says makes side of the spread hit hard. Find out what it is at SportsLine.
So who wins Ravens vs. Chiefs in the NFL Kickoff Game 2024, and what critical x-factor makes one side hit hard? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Ravens vs. Chiefs spread to back, all from the expert who is 33-21 on Kansas City spread picks, and find out.
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Author: CBS Sports Staff
August 31, 2024 | 9:25 am
