The 2024 NFL Kickoff Game will feature the Kansas City Chiefs hoisting their championship banner and then taking on the Baltimore Ravens in a rematch of last season’s AFC Championship Game. This will be the fifth head-to-head matchup between Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson (both two-time NFL MVPs) and Mahomes is 4-1 both straight-up and against the spread. That includes a 17-10 win over the Ravens in last year’s AFC title game, with the Chiefs making use of a 3-0 turnover differential to overcome being outgained by Baltimore.
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 -152, 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
A major reason that the Chiefs are so tough to beat is their stifling defense. Last season, the Chiefs were second in the NFL in total defense (289.8) and scoring defense (17.3) but fourth in pass defense (176.5). In the last outing against Baltimore, the Chiefs held the Ravens to 10 total points, 3-of-11 on third down, and forced three turnovers.
Defensive tackle Chris Jones is one of the best players in his position. Jones has a rare combination of speed and power to get into the backfield. The five-time Pro Bowler finished with 30 total tackles, 13 tackles for loss, and 10.5 sacks last season. Cornerback Trent McDuffie is a crafty defender with outstanding instincts in coverage from the slot. He finished the season with an 82.9 overall PFF Grade. The Washington product put up 80 total tackles, seven pass deflections, five forced fumbles, and three sacks. See who to back at SportsLine.
Why the Ravens can cover
Baltimore won 10 of its last 12 games to win home-field advantage in the AFC but couldn’t make use of playing at M&T Bank Stadium in the AFC Championship Game. However, Jackson did win NFL MVP honors and he’ll be eager to show that his squad can compete against the Kansas City dynasty.
The addition of Derrick Henry this offseason should help pull some focus from Jackson and he’ll have a healthy Mark Andrews at his disposal in 2024. When he was in the lineup, Andrews had a 37.8% target share in the red zone and he should play a more significant role in the opening week after only receiving two targets in the AFC title game. 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
September 3, 2024 | 11:36 am
