Philadelphia Eagles (11-6) vs. Baltimore Ravens (13-4)
As the NFL preseason kicks off, the Philadelphia Eagles and Baltimore Ravens prepare to clash at M&T Bank Stadium on August 9, 2024. Both teams are entering Week 1 with impressive records from last season, with the Eagles at 11-6 and the Ravens slightly ahead at 13-4. This game promises to offer valuable insights into the potential trajectory of both teams for the upcoming season, making it a critical matchup for enthusiasts and bettors alike, and an essential part of this week’s NFL free picks.
Offensively, last season the Eagles leaned on Jalen Hurts, a quarterback whose main target was A.J. Brown and his diversified receiving teammates. In 2021, Hurts threw for 3,858 yards for 23 touchdowns and threw the ball away 15 times as well. Kenneth Gainwell led the ground game with 364 yards at a rate of 4.3 yards per carry. However, Brown dominated in receiving efforts by making one hundred six catches for 1,456 yards to become one of the biggest aerial threats around. Nevertheless, Philadelphia’s offense has shown flexibility but it crucially requires minimizing turnovers and taking full advantage of red-zone chances to boost their rankings and overcome previous challenges.
On the other hand, the Ravens had a strong offensive lineup with Lamar Jackson at their helm who always seemed to be calculating his every move before executing them correctly with great agility in the field. While performing this he almost passed for 3,700 feet through 34 touchdowns last term while completing about two thirds of his passes on average which is quite good among quarterbacks. Despite being just a rookie, Mitchell Keaton came out of nowhere with 396 rushing yards averaging an impressive 8 points four yards per attempt, all these indicating brighter things ahead. The leader of this group was Flowers Zay who snatched 77 catches totaling 858 yards Baltimore’s offensive strategy that features fast Jackson and fantastic Mitchels results in an unpredictable opponent on both running and passing games.
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Baltimore Ravens Game Info
| When: | Friday, August 9, 2024 at 7:30 PM ET |
| Where: | M&T Bank Stadium |
| TV: | — |
| Stream: | NFL Game Pass |
Jalen Hurts QB vs. Lamar Jackson QB
For the Eagles, Jalen Hurts has been a key player, with good passing and running abilities. Even with last season’s sacks and interceptions though, his performance remained commendable as he attained a passer rating of 89.1. On the other side, his ability to negotiate the pocket under duress would be key in defeating Ravens’ aggressive defense.
On the other hand, Lamar Jackson developed as one of the elite quarterbacks in the NFL. Last season saw him increase his passer rating up to 102.7 due to better decision making and efficiency. With mobility and accuracy, Jackson is both a runner and a passer; this represents a great challenge for Eagles’ defense that has to corral him if they are going to have any chance at all.
NFL Odds/Point Spread: Baltimore Ravens -170, Total Odds: 37
The Ravens are favored with a spread of -3 and a moneyline of -170, reflecting confidence in their home performance and preseason preparations. The total set at 37 with equal odds on the over and under suggests expectations of a moderately scoring game, likely hinging on defensive plays.
Philadelphia Eagles Betting Trends
The Eagles have struggled against the spread, going 0-7 ATS in their last 7 games, and they are 1-6 SU in their last 7 games, indicating issues with closing out games. However, their history against Baltimore (4-1 ATS in their last 5 meetings) suggests they perform better against this specific opponent, potentially making them a risky but rewarding underdog pick.
Baltimore Ravens Betting Trends
Conversely, the Ravens have been strong both at home and in recent performances, with a 6-3 ATS in their last 9 games and an impressive 11-3 SU in their last 14 games. Their dominance at home against Philadelphia is notable, having won 5-0 SU in their last 5 home games against them.
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Baltimore Ravens 8/9/24 Betting Picks
Considering the historical performance and current stats, the Ravens appear to have the upper hand, especially with their robust home record and the Eagles’ recent struggles. The preseason may bring surprises, but the trends point to Baltimore as the safer bet at the top live betting website.
For those looking into deeper bets, considering the over might be a potential angle given the offensive capabilities on display, despite the historical tendency for unders in Eagles’ games. Keep an eye on prop bets related to Lamar Jackson’s rushing yards and A.J. Brown’s receiving yards, as these could provide value.
