2024 NFL Kickoff Game prediction, odds, line, time, spread: Chiefs vs. Ravens on 32-21 roll with expert picks
The NFL has gifted us with a potential postseason contest to start the season. The Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs will face off in the 2024 NFL Kickoff Game on Thursday, September 5. Andy Reid has a 6-2 record all-time against John Harbaugh. Reid knows how to get his team going in the first month of the season, posting a 35-20 record in September as head coach. The Chiefs, led by quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce, are looking for their third straight Super Bowl title.
Kickoff is scheduled for 8:20 p.m. ET from GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. Kansas City is a 3-point favorite in the latest Ravens vs. Chiefs odds, according to the SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is 46.5. Before locking in any Ravens vs. Chiefs picks, be sure to check out the NFL predictions and betting advice from SportsLine expert Larry Hartstein.
Hartstein, the former head writer for Covers and The Linemakers, combines a vast network of Vegas sources with an analytical approach he honed while working for Pro Football Focus. He tied for 52nd place (out of 1,598 entries) by going 53-34-3 ATS in the 2022 Westgate Las Vegas Supercontest. 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 ahead of the pack.
Now, Hartstein has taken a position on Chiefs vs. Ravens and just revealed his favorite NFL picks and predictions. You can visit SportsLine right now to see his picks. Here are multiple NFL odds and NFL betting lines on the spread, money line and over-under for Ravens vs. Chiefs:
- Chiefs vs. Ravens Spread: Chiefs -3
- Chiefs vs. Ravens Over/Under: 46.5 points
- Chiefs vs. Ravens Money Line: Chiefs -152, Ravens +129
- BAL: The Ravens have won five consecutive road games
- KC: Chiefs have won the last two home contests with Baltimore
- Chiefs vs. Ravens Picks: See at SportsLine
Why the Chiefs might cover
A big reason the Chiefs are so hard to beat is their stifling defense. Last season, the Chiefs ranked second in the NFL in total defense (289.8) and scoring defense (17.3), but were fourth in pass defense (176.5). In the last game against Baltimore, the Chiefs held the Ravens to 10 total points, went 3-of-11 on third downs and forced three turnovers.
Defensive tackle Chris Jones is one of the best players at his position. Jones has a rare combination of speed and strength to get into the backfield. The five-time Pro Bowler finished last season with 30 total tackles, 13 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks. Cornerback Trent McDuffie is a crafty defender who has excellent instincts in coverage from the slot. He finished the season with an 82.9 overall PFF grade. The Washington product had 80 total tackles, seven pass deflections, five forced fumbles and three sacks. See who to back at SportsLine.
Why the Ravens Might Cover
The Ravens make things difficult for opposing teams on both sides of the ball. Baltimore’s defense is stifling, making it difficult for the offense to get into a rhythm. Last season, the Ravens ranked sixth in total defense (301.4) and pass defense (191.9). Additionally, they ranked first in the league in points allowed per game (16.5).
Defensive tackle Justin Madubuike is an impressive 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 strong pass defender and isn’t afraid to step 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 up at SportsLine.
How to pick Chiefs vs. Ravens
Hartstein is leaning toward the over overall. He’s also found a key X-factor that he says makes the spread side a tough sell. Find out what it is at SportsLine.
So who wins Ravens vs. Chiefs in the NFL Kickoff Game 2024, and what crucial X-factor gives one side a hard hit? Visit SportsLine now to see which team is back to back in the Ravens vs. Chiefs spread, all from an expert who is 33-21 on Kansas City spread picks, and find out.
