Who’s favored in Sunday’s game between the Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans? It depends on who you ask. DraftKings has Houston as a -1.5/-108 favorite while Baltimore sits at +1.15/112. Hence, a winning $200 wager on the Ravens would net $304, while the same winning bet on the Texans would earn $164.
Of course, the big news is Ravens superstar quarterback Lamar Jackson, who will miss this game and two or three more due to an injury. Jackson’s key role in the Ravens’ offense explains why Houston is favored by bettors.
Upcoming Game vs. Houston Texans (Week 5)
- Spread:+1.5 (meaning the Ravens were expected to be within 1.5 points of the Texans)
- Odds/ Moneyline:+108 (meaning a $100 bet would win $108)
- Total (Over/Under):40.5
… But we don’t agree with the odds this time.
Forget about Jackson and the revised “injury” odds; this Ravens franchise hasn’t lost three in a row in 10 years. They’ve been a top team for the better part of the last 25 years and remain a top 8 or top 10 NFL team today. And for all of Lamar Jackson’s greatness, he doesn’t play defense or special teams and is just one of 11 starters on offense. Sure, he’s a tremendous threat running, and the offense won’t be as dangerous without him. We’d be delusional if we ignored the extra dimension Lamar adds.
However, sometimes the unofficial, non-numeric odds are stronger than the bookie odds. And the former suggests the talented, well-coached Ravens, at 1-3, have their backs against the wall and will find a way to win Sunday… Because the Ravens ARE a playoff-caliber team.
It may not be pretty – but we predict a Ravens victory, especially because the 1-3 Texans haven’t been playing at last year’s level.
And let’s talk about Ravens back-up quarterback Cooper Rush. He’s certainly no rookie, as this is his 8th year in the league. Previously in Dallas as Dak Prescott’s back-up, Rush, from 2021 to 2024, played in 33 games and held more than his own. Rush is a reliable back-up
who is capable of playing like a starter. Couple that with Derrick Henry’s strong running behind a quality offensive line, and it’s easy to see why Baltimore wins this game.
Our prediction: Ravens 27-21
Forget about the “bookie” odds for this one. We are predicting an upset.