Redskins at the Ravens NFL football Betting Pick
Washington @ Baltimore nfl betting Pick and Preview
The Redskins travel to Charm City in a rematch from last year’s 24-10 Baltimore victory, though neither team bears much resemblance to last season’s squads. Washington lost a pair of defensive ends in Demetric Evans and one year wonder Jason Taylor, but the general sentiment is that the additions of rookie Brian Orakpo, Pro Bowler defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth and veteran Renaldo Wynn will bolster the Redskins’ defensive line significantly.
Washington opted to draft Orakpo over a handful of quarterback prospects in the recent NFL Draft, showing the team’s willingness to stick with fourth year starter Jason Campbell. The Ravens took a different approach to the off season after losing long time defensive coordinator Rex Ryan as the head coach of the New York Jets. Ryan snatched starters Bart Scott and Jim Leonhard from his old team, but Baltimore hopes that the signing of cornerback Domonique Foxworth will solve those problems.
Both teams will get a better idea of the capabilities of coaches Jim Zorn (Washington) and John Harbaugh (Baltimore), who took different paths to get to their second seasons. Zorn’s squad started last season 6-2 before ending up 8-8 (6-8-2 AGAINST THE SPREAD). Harbaugh’s Ravens stumbled out of the gates to a 2-3 record behind rookie quarterback Joe Flacco, but bounced back with an appearance in the AFC Championship game, falling to Pittsburgh for the third time in 2008. Ultimately, Baltimore’s 11-5 (12-4 AGAINST THE SPREAD) season left Ravens fans wanting more of both Harbaugh and Flacco.
Baltimore enters the game as 3 point favorites at M&T Bank Stadium, where the Ravens were 6-2 AGAINST THE SPREAD last season. At +2000, the Ravens are considered by Las Vegas as twice more likely than their Washington counterparts (+4000) to win the Super Bowl.
Our NFL football betting pick for this game is take the points and the Skins at +3.5.
