2024 NFL Kickoff Game prediction, odds, line, time, spread: Expert picks on Chiefs vs. Ravens 32-21 roll
The 2024 NFL season officially begins on Thursday, September 5. The Kansas City Chiefs will host the Baltimore Ravens in the 2024 NFL Kickoff Game, the first matchup of the Week 1 NFL schedule. The Chiefs will put up another banner at Arrowhead Stadium while their conference opponents will try to ooze positive vibes. In last season’s opener, the Detroit Lions came to Arrowhead Stadium and defeated the Chiefs 21-20, although Kansas City was without star tight end Travis Kelce and defensive tackle Chris Jones.
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 -151, Ravens +127
- 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
The Chiefs wanted to add more speed to spread the field more in 2024, and that’s exactly what they did in the NFL Draft. In the first round, Kansas City added wide receiver Xavier Worthy. He caught everyone’s attention at the NFL Scouting Combine when he ran a 4.21 40-yard dash. Despite this, Worthy runs a strong route tree and can create separation. In three seasons at the University of Texas, he recorded 197 catches for 2,755 receiving yards and 26 touchdowns.
Receiver Justin Watson is another playmaker that Kansas City has. Watson uses his strong hands to bring down the football and tracks the ball well. In 2023, he recorded 27 catches for a career-high 460 yards and three touchdowns. Watson had five games with at least 50 yards receiving last season. Check out 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.
