Yes, this 2023-24 NFL season heads into the final four Who will win on Sunday and punch their ticket first to Super Bowl 58? Patrick Mahomes wants to do it again but Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens stand in the way. Will Baltimore get back to the promised land? Now, it’s time to get cracking and get some AFC Championship picks in for the Chiefs vs Ravens Bets.
Typically, a late January warm up always happens in the Baltimore area. We are kidding some but not really in this case. Temperatures will get well into the 60’s on Friday before rainy conditions greet the Chiefs and Ravens on Sunday. A little more line movement is possible. More online Vegas betting site bonuses are available. Here are some NFL Vegas odds for the AFC Championship:
The Chiefs vs Ravens bets take on a quick AFC Championship preview. Now, this battle on Tuesday features the two best teams in the NFL’s AFC all season. Sometimes Kansas City forgets to play like they are the Super Bowl Champions. However, they went on the road last Sunday and outlasted the Buffalo Bills. It was not an easy game but the Chiefs won 27-24 behind smart play from their offense and defense.
Meanwhile, the Baltimore Ravens forged their way to the AFC Championship game in a tougher than expected game against the upstart Houston Texans. Baltimore needed a 24-point second half push to distance themselves from the Texans. It set up what felt like an inevitable battle from the midpoint of the season. Some will debate this but the numbers speak for themselves.
Baltimore rolls in with the top point differential in the league going up against one of the best defenses in the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs even slowed down Josh Allen last week on the road and that is not easy to do. How will they fare against the rush-first attack of the Ravens and Lamar Jackson? How will Baltimore do against Pat Mahomes? That may be the bigger question as Baltimore is in the moment.
Yes, this expects to be one of those games where the two teams might feel each other out early. Does Baltimore take shots down the field in the conditions? Does Kansas City for that matter? There lies some uncertainty in the intensity of the rain on Sunday. The North wind at 10-15 mph will be a factor in the kicking and passing game at times too.
Okay, the defenses will be more the focus than Jackson or Mahomes. Vegas Sports Betting got amazed at the notion that the Under has some potential in this game. Yes, the Chiefs vs Ravens Bets know that 44.5 is the point total here. However, this game could be sloppy enough and that offers some hope even at that low of a total. Again, in terms of points allowed, these two teams were among the best all season.
"We know who Patrick Mahomes is with the Super Bowls and MVPs, but this is up to Lamar Jackson to do it in spots that Patrick Mahomes has already done it."
— The Carton Show (@TheCartonShow) January 24, 2024
— @willcolon66 on #Chiefs vs. #Ravens pic.twitter.com/iObFc9mwBe
The problem comes in the form of the messenger. One may not like this but the reality is the Chiefs defense finds ways to win. Can the Baltimore defense say the same when adversity hits. Houston was a mere appetizer compared to what Kansas City brings to the mix. Granted, the Chiefs offense has not been quite the same. However, they scored 27 points in Buffalo and still left points on the table.
Now, this is why we focus more on the defenses here. Defenses win championships. The Ravens defense did that in their only Super Bowl triumph over the Giants. Kansas City came up with the stops needed late against Philadelphia last year. The Steve Spagnuolo led defense has delivered the goods before. Spagnuolo stopped Tom Brady. Little else needs to be said.
It is still weird to see the Chiefs listed as an underdog for the second week in a row. Last week, we ran with the Chiefs outright on the Moneyline. With a number heading towards +150, why not ride that again behind one of the better defenses in the league. Under pressure, the Chiefs are less likely to break here as Mahomes has been here before. Jackson has not.
Chiefs vs Ravens Bets run reluctantly to the under for this Sunday afternoon game. Honestly, here is our problem with the game flow. Unlike Buffalo and Kansas City, Baltimore is content to run more and take up more clock. The Ravens’ strategy will be to try and wear down the Chiefs’ defense. This is all while keeping Patrick Mahomes off the field.
Now, Kansas City ran for almost 150 yards last week even with only 22:03 in time of possession. Buffalo held the ball for almost 38 minutes. If that tilts even a bit more toward Kansas City, Baltimore may be in trouble either way. Again, could this be a 20-17 game or even 23-20? Few would be surprised. Could this go the other way? Absolutely.
Understandably the key becomes the weather. Everyone knows this fact! Side with the Under this time.
BetOnline has one more bet perhaps. This is a wild one but do not be surprised if Kansas City finds a way to score on defense or special teams. The feeling is Lamar Jackson might force something and make a few mistakes.
BetOnline believes in this one in a flier on Sunday As a matter of fact, this long shot rolls in at +650. Check out our BetOnline sportsbook review for even more information.
Take the Chiefs Sunday one more time to advance over the Ravens.
Summary
Chris Wassel AA, AAS CURRENTLY Sports Writer and Journalist RESIDES IN Rahway, NJ EDUCATION Union County College, Montclair State University EXPERTISE Business, Writing, Sports, Food, Grilling, Olympics, Injuries, Politics, and more Summary Member of FSWA, FSGA, and a variety of Sports Betting Groups. Lead arranger of news and injury reports for Rotoballer Hockey. Also did the news lead for NASCAR on the same site coming out of COVID. Strategy and mapping out of various sports betting and sports articles for MyNHLTradeRumors and gambling.com. Runs a hockey and fantasy hockey podcast that teaches fantasy hockey players how to improve their skills. Experience Chris Wassel has 20+ years of sports journalistic experience in various disciplines.. His ability to play sports is well documented. Most people in the business just write. However, Chris will race cars and even a super Moto bike from time to time. There is that fitness and hiking/cycling aspect too. Chris has climbed mountains from Mount Washington to Mount San Jacinto in Palm Springs, California. For those that do not know. Chris also dabbles in food eating contests and challenges. Having a unique background with friends including Joey Chestnut and Casey Webb, Chris has the ability to eat a whole 16-pound turkey or a 32 inch meat lover's pizza. Since 2013, Chris has primarily focused on sports writing and fitness. On social media, he will answer any question in many different aspects. Even Chris's ability to wager on Entertainment and US Elections is well documented. He was able to predict Joe Biden's inevitable dip in approval rating below 40%. Throughout his career, Chris has worked at a lot of places from DraftKings to USA Today and much more. Finally, Chris has been nominated for quite a few awards from the Fantasy Sports Writers Association for Hockey Writer Of The Year. Also, there have been a number of amazing fantasy hockey championships from expert to high-stake leagues. Education Chris received an Associates from Union Country College for business and accounting. Chris did sports journalism work at Montclair State University covering the hockey, baseball, and football teams. Quote from Chris Wassel "Do Not Think, Just Do.”
Education
1999 Graduate of Union County College
1993 Graduate of Rahway High School
Professional Achievements
Media credentialed member of the New Jersey Devils since 2010
Covered several NHL Drafts including the one day event in Newark in 2013
Been on countless podcasts, TV shows, and more including Sportsnet and even NHL Network