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The Baltimore Ravens will take on the Washington Football Team in the third and final week of the preseason on Saturday. It's time to continue our NFL odds series and make a Ravens-Washington prediction and pick.
The Ravens enter this week as one of the few undefeated teams left in the league. They've had a great preseason, getting contributions from all over the roster throughout their two victories.
The same can't be said for Washington. The Football Team lost by multiple scores in the preseason opener and then barely managed to scrape out a victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in the second preseason game. Head coach Ron Rivera will certainly be looking for some improvement as Washington faces one of the better-coached teams in football in the Ravens.
Here's how the bookmakers have set the lines for Saturday's game.
NFL Odds: Ravens-Washington Football Team Odds
Baltimore Ravens -3 1/2 (-120)
Washington Football Team +3 1/2 (+100)
Over 32 points (-115)
Under 32 points (-105)
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Why The Ravens Could Cover The Spread
Baltimore dominated its first two preseason victories with defense. The Ravens forced six turnovers in their preseason opener and followed that up by allowing only three points to the Carolina Panthers. The defensive line looked particularly good against the Panthers, as they racked up two sacks, four tackles for loss, and three more quarterback hits as a unit. Washington hasn't announced who will play quarterback for them yet, but that QB will have to contend with a defense that looks ready for the regular season.
The Ravens' run game has also looked fantastic throughout the preseason. They've followed their regular-season game plan and allowed the ground game to take over for stretches of each game, and it has worked perfectly. Baltimore has had three rushers average more than four yards per carry in both of their preseason games. An efficient run game minimizes the odds of turnovers and other game-killing plays, which is often enough to win in the preseason. The Ravens clearly know how to win in the preseason, as they're going for their 20th straight preseason victory in this game.
Why The Washington Football Team Could Cover The Spread
Washington has a huge advantage in this game, and it's at the most important position in football. The Ravens are unlikely to play Lamar Jackson at all, meaning that backups Tyler Huntley and Trace McSorley will handle the signal-calling duties in this game. Even if Washington head coach Ron Rivera decides to sit starter Ryan Fitzpatrick, the Football Team has some quality backups ready to take over. Kyle Allen has seen plenty of regular-season action and should be able to pick apart preseason defenses. Taylor Heinicke also has some experience playing in games that count, and he has shown some promise throughout his career. Both of these backups are capable of playing solid football, which usually leads to preseason victories.
Much like the Ravens, Washington has had plenty of success running the football. Undrafted free agent running back Jaret Patterson has flashed his ability, earning himself 110 rushing yards and a touchdown throughout his first two NFL appearances. The running game is always far less volatile than the passing game, so expect another good performance from Patterson in this one.
Final Ravens-Washington Prediction & Pick
This is a fairly easy pick. The Ravens should win and cover easily, as Washington hasn't shown much on either side of the ball throughout the preseason. Look for Baltimore to extend its preseason winning streak in this contest with ease.
FINAL PICK: Baltimore Ravens -3 1/2 (-120)
