Ravens vs. Cardinals Week 2 Preseason NFL Picks: Will Baltimore Extend Remarkable Run?
Will Baltimore’s preseason dominance continue? Below, we offer up our top Ravens-Cardinals Week 2 NFL preseason picks.
The Baltimore Ravens extended their NFL-record preseason winning streak to 21 games last week with a 23-10 rout of the Tennessee Titans, but oddsmakers are making it difficult for bettors to back Baltimore this week on the spread.
The Ravens are favored by nearly a touchdown when they visit the Arizona Cardinals, who are coming off a dominant Week 1 preseason performance of their own.
Here are our Ravens-Cardinals NFL football picks for Preseason Week 2 (odds via Caesars Sportsbook).
Ravens vs. Cardinals Game Info
Date: Sunday, Aug 21, 8 p.m. ET
TV: FOX
Location: State Farm Stadium, Glendale, AZ
Weather: 101 degrees, 0% chance of precipitation, 7-mph winds
Ravens vs. Cardinals Odds Analysis
If you’ve been monitoring the odds movement on this game throughout the week, you’ve had quite the roller coaster ride. After opening as a 1.5-point underdog, Baltimore shot up as high as a 7.5-point favorite before settling as 5-point chalk with most of our top-rated sportsbooks.
The total has also seen some dramatic fluctuation, starting at 41.5, heading north to 43.5 and then coming back down to 38.5 at the time of writing. Nearly 70% of bettors have backed the Over in this game, but 90% of the cash has been on the Under.
Ravens vs. Cardinals Picks
- Cardinals +5.5 (-110)
- Under 39 (-110)
Ravens vs. Cardinals ATS Pick
Cardinals +5.5 (-110)
It’s not fun stepping in front of a streak like Baltimore’s preseason run, but this bloated point spread provides us with a great chance to cash this ticket if the Cardinals can stay within one possession. To put into perspective just how generous this spread is, the Ravens have been favored by more than 5.5 points just once during the 21-game streak.
As dominant as the Ravens’ 23-10 victory over the Titans last week may look, the final score was a bit misleading. Baltimore’s first touchdown was set up by a fumble recovery deep in Titans territory, and the Ravens later snuffed out a Tennessee drive by intercepting a pass inside their own five.
Don’t forget about how good the Cardinals looked last week against the Cincinnati Bengals, either. Trace McSorley and Jarrett Guarantano are still battling for the third quarterback spot, while running back Jonathan Ward (two touchdowns last week) is trying to earn a spot on the roster as well.
Ravens vs. Cardinals O/U Pick
Under 39 (-110)
Much of the Ravens’ success in preseason play has come on the strength of their defense, with Baltimore allowing 10 points or fewer in four of its last five exhibition contests. The Ravens’ defense has also outplayed Baltimore’s offense in practice this week, prompting number one receiver Rashod Bateman to call out his team’s struggling attack — and that was with Lamar Jackson under center, something that we won’t see this weekend.
The Cardinals should be content to keep things conservative this week as well. Coach Kliff Kingsbury acknowledged to reporters that his biggest goals in preseason action are seeing his team execute substitutions well, minimize penalties, and avoid turnovers.
Despite their 36-point performance last week, McSorley and Guarantano combined for 217 passing yards, while their defense allowed a paltry 62 rushing yards.
Where to Bet on Ravens vs. Cardinals Picks
Here are our top-rated sportsbooks:
SEE ALSO: All picks, odds, and sports betting news. Be sure to check out SportsbookReview.com’s community forums and betting tools.
Ravens-Cardinals picks made 8/19/2022 at 9:30 a.m. ET
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