Dolphins vs. Ravens Point Spread: NFL Week 17 Odds, Prediction
A Ravens win would get them to 13-3 and clinch them first and the important first round bye + home field advantage throughout the playoffs. A Miami win would put them in first in the AFC for the time being, and would also clinch them the AFC East.
And while the winner of this game will finish the day in first in the AFC, the loser may not even have their division clinched. If Baltimore losses, they could still fumble the division away to Cleveland. If the Dolphins lose, a Buffalo–Miami game next weekend could decide the AFC East. Both teams know how important Sunday is, not to mention the tone-setting aspect.
Kickoff at M&T Bank Stadium goes at 1 p.m. EST Sunday with Baltimore getting four points to cover the spread at home and the total set at 47.5 on the NFL odds.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Sunday serves as a chance at redemption for the Ravens as last season they blew a 21-point lead hosting Miami last season, ending in a 42-38 Dolphins victory. The win was Miami’s third in their last 11 times facing off with Baltimore, and Miami’s second time covering throughout those 11 clashes.
The over has hit in four of these teams’ last five matchups. Both clubs enter as top five scoring offences too, with Miami the league’s top offence with 30.9 points per game and Baltimore fourth with 27.8 a game. Eleven of the last 15 Dolphins road games have finished over the total as well.
Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins are coming off their biggest win of the season as they defeated Dallas 22-20 last Sunday. But that was on home field, and now Miami has to take their 4-3 road record and go play the NFL’s undisputed top team right now in Baltimore. Miami’s played a couple tough opponents away from home this season — the likes of Buffalo, Philadelphia, and Kansas City — and have come out on the losing end every time.
But the Dolphins possess the ability to go toe-to-toe on offence with anyone in the NFL, and as mentioned came out on top in that situation last season at Baltimore. And when it comes to stopping the Ravens’ league-best run game, Miami ranks in the top six in majority of the major rush defence categories — something that needs to be on display Sunday.
Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens made a statement on Christmas Day that they are the current king of the NFL. It’s what a 33-19 blowout at San Francisco will do, especially for a Ravens defence that had five takeaways. Lamar Jackson, now the frontrunner for NFL MVP, had a clean night on offence too with 297 total yards and two touchdowns. Jackson’s unit didn’t turn the ball over at all.
Baltimore relied heavily on rookie receiver Zay Flowers, who again shined in the national spotlight with a game-high nine receptions and 72 receiving yards and a touchdown. Flowers leads Baltimore with 752 receiving yards as his and Odell Beckham Jr.’s combined 1,200 receiving yards has propelled the Ravens offence to a new height this season.