Lions vs. Ravens MNF Point Spread: NFL Week 3 Odds, Prediction
The Ravens are 5.5-point favourites on the NFL odds with a total of 51.5.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Detroit vs. Baltimore was a popular matchup pick for Super Bowl LIX this past February in New Orleans. The Lions won a franchise-record 15 regular-season games in 2024 but were shocked in the Divisional Round at home by Washington. Detroit is the only NFC team yet to reach a Super Bowl in franchise history. The window might have closed a tiny bit after last season when the team lost offensive coordinator Ben Johnson to the head coaching job in Chicago and lost defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn to the top job with the New York jets.
Baltimore has been arguably good enough to reach the Super Bowl each of the past three seasons but two-time league MVP Lamar Jackson just hasn’t been able to get over the hump yet. He’s stuck in the same conference as all-world quarterbacks in Josh Allen of the Bills (eliminated Baltimore from last season’s playoffs), Patrick Mahomes of the Chiefs (eliminated Baltimore from playoffs following the 2023 campaign) and Joe Burrow of the Bengals (eliminated Baltimore following the 2022 season). I personally believe the Ravens do win the AFC this year barring injury.
A Lions vs. Ravens exact Super Bowl matchup is +2500. The teams have met seven times in the regular season with Baltimore leading 6-1 and winner of five straight. Detroit visited Charm City in Week 7 of the 2023 season and the Ravens rolled to a 38-6 win. Lamar Jackson threw for three scores and rushed for one. Baltimore reached the end zone four times before Detroit managed a first down.
Detroit Lions
Detroit looked terrible in Week 1 in Green Bay but polar opposite on Sunday in its home opener, trashing Chicago 52-21. It was Detroit’s third 50-point game in the past two seasons, which is as many as the franchise had in its first 94 seasons. Jared Goff was terrific in throwing for 334 yards, five touchdowns and no picks. It was his fourth career game with at least five TD throws and no interceptions, one of nine quarterbacks in league history with at least four such games. Goff became the first quarterback in team history with an 80 completion per centage and five passing touchdowns in a game, while also passing Bobby Layne (118) for the second-most passing touchdowns in franchise history.
David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs both had a rush TD in the same game for the 10th time, tied for the most by a tailback duo in NFL history. Pro Bowl wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown had three TD catches. The Lions haven’t lost back-to-back games since 2022. Pass-rusher Marcus Davenport and safety Brian Branch both left the game injured. Detroit is 12-6 ATS in its past 18 games.
Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore won its home opener on Sunday, 41-17 over Cleveland, to become the 13th team in NFL history to score at least 40 points in its first two games but the lone one that went 1-1 in those instead of 2-0. It’s the first time in Ravens history they have scored at least 40 in the first two games of a season and first time doing it back-to-back at any point since 2020. While the usually vaunted Ravens running game was shut down against Cleveland, Lamar Jackson threw four TD passes.
The two-time MVP is off to another MVP-calibre start with totaling seven touchdowns and no turnovers so far. It’s the fifth time in the past 20 years that a quarterback reached that mark in the first two weeks. The previous four to achieve it — Peyton Manning (2013), Patrick Mahomes (2018 and 2022) and Jackson (2019) — all went on to win NFL MVP. However, outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy is going to miss some time after injuring his hamstring in Week 2. Last season, he led Baltimore with 12.5 sacks, which ranked fourth in the NFL, and earned his first Pro Bowl invite. Rookie Mike Green could take his spot. He led the FBS with 17 sacks last season at Marshall. Baltimore is 8-1 SU in its past nine at home.
DET
BAL