The NFL has gifted us with a potential postseason contest to kick off the season. The Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs will meet in the 2024 NFL Kickoff Game on Thursday, September 5. Andy Reid owns a 6-2 record against John Harbaugh all-time. Reid knows how to get his team rolling in the first month of the season, notching a 35-20 record in September as a head coach. The Chiefs, led by quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce, are in pursuit of their third straight Super Bowl title.
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 -3Chiefs vs. Ravens over/under: 46.5 pointsChiefs vs. Ravens money line: Chiefs -152, Ravens +129BAL: Ravens have won five consecutive road gamesKC: Chiefs have won the last two home meetings with BaltimoreChiefs 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
The Ravens make life difficult for opposing teams on both sides of the ball. Baltimore has a suffocating defense that makes it hard for offenses to get into a rhythm. Last season, the Ravens were ranked sixth in total defense (301.4) and pass defense (191.9). Additionally, they were first in the league in points allowed per game (16.5).
Defensive tackle Justin Madubuike is an impactful force on the defensive front. Madubuike wreaks havoc in the backfield as both a run-stuffer and pass-rusher. The 26-year-old was ninth in the league in sacks (13) with 56 total tackles and 12 tackles for loss in 2023. Safety Kyle Hamilton lines up all over the field as a stout pass defender and isn’t scared to pull up as a tackler in the run game. Last year, the Notre Dame product was third on the squad in total tackles (81) with 13 pass breakups, four interceptions, and three sacks. 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.
