Texans vs. Ravens Predictions, Picks & Odds Week 1: Stroud Not Ready For Ravens' Defense
While the Baltimore Ravens have bolstered quarterback Lamar Jackson with new weapons for the 2023 season, the Houston Texans, who are still in the process of building around rookie QB C.J. Stroud, prompt us to assess the matchup and offer our top Texans-Ravens predictions based on the best NFL odds.
The Baltimore Ravens endured a clunky finish to the 2022 season, but could a revamped offense make them an AFC sleeping giant?
The Texans should be hoping against it, as Houston’s rookie quarterback might not be prepared for his introduction to the NFL.
Here is our best Texans vs. Ravens prediction (odds via our best NFL betting sites; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale).
Texans vs. Ravens prediction
Ravens -9.5 (-110 via Caesars) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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The Ravens have long been built on the strength of their menacing defense and that was the case once again in Baltimore last season. The Ravens ranked an NFL third in scoring defense, allowing just 18.8 points per game en route to a 10-win season.
The offense faced consistency issues in 2022, with offensive coordinator Greg Roman's strategies becoming less effective, resulting in a struggling Baltimore offense. The team also had to contend with injuries to key players like quarterback Lamar Jackson, tight end Mark Andrews, and wide receiver Rashod Bateman, which further hampered their offensive capabilities.
The Ravens addressed those issues, adding wide receivers Zay Flowers and Odell Beckham Jr. while bringing in Georgia OC Todd Monken to run their offense. Jackson expects to helm an aerial attack that brings him back to his MVP level of productivity. If this takes place in Week 1, the Texans are doomed, as we're expecting with our NFL best bets for Week 1.
Houston rolls into Baltimore with Stroud as its new franchise face, but the Texans can’t expect to hang in this matchup. Although the Ravens' passing game was a shell of itself a season ago, I’m buying into the off-season overhaul as a catalyst to a monster showing against a D that allowed an NFL sixth-most points per game (24.7).
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Texans vs. Ravens best odds
BetMGM, Caesars, bet365: Ravens -9.5 (-110)
DraftKings offers the lowest-quality line odds as you can find the Ravens with the valuable hook from -10 to -9.5 at BetMGM, Caesars, and bet365 - all without giving up a cent on the -110 odds. If you’re looking for an odds boost to -105, FanDuel provides it, but it’s at the -10 number that's not as valuable.
Getting the hook to -9.5 at standard -110 odds makes this a five-star play for NFL Week 1. Play the Ravens to -12.5 with your NFL Week 1 predictions, but this wager reduces to a four-star recommendation with DraftKings' and FanDuel's -10 offerings.
Texans vs. Ravens odds
Texans vs. Ravens odds analysis
Baltimore opened as a 9.5-point favorite and remained at that spot at the majority of our best sports betting apps. FanDuel and DraftKings, however, bumped the line to -10. Over 58% of the spread bets came in on the Ravens.
The total opened at 44.5 and now sits between 43.5 and 44 across our best sports betting sites as 52% of total wagers checked in on the Under.
Texans vs. Ravens game info
- When: Sunday, Sept. 10, at 1 p.m. ET
- Where: M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, MD
- How to watch: CBS
- Weather: 81 degrees, 78% chance of precipitation, 8-mph winds
Texans-Ravens prediction made Friday, 9/8/23 at 6:45 a.m. ET
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