NFL Spreads and Picks: Baltimore Ravens visit Seattle Seahawks

Sunday, November 13, 2011

by Aengus Moorehead

Pete Carroll - NFL Spreads and Picks: Baltimore Ravens visit Seattle Seahawks

Analysis:
Joe Flacco may have his critics, but the spectacular game- winning drive the Baltimore Ravens quarterback engineered against a bitter rival last weekend brought some more support over to his camp.

Things aren't going as well for Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll and quarterback Tarvaris Jackson.

With both clubs at the halfway point of their respective schedules, Baltimore continues to look like the contender many thought it could be while Seattle is still searching for an identity that can produce some victories. The contrasting styles square off this Sunday at CenturyLink Field.

At 6-2, the Ravens are tied with Cincinnati for first place in the AFC North after Baltimore completed its two-game season sweep of Pittsburgh last Sunday. Both Baltimore and the Bengals are a half-game ahead of the Steelers and will meet next weekend in Maryland.

The Bengals are hosting the Steelers this weekend.

The Seahawks, meanwhile, find themselves just 2-6 after a third straight loss last weekend in Dallas and are five games off the pace in the NFC West.

Flacco emerged from hostile Heinz Field on Sunday a hero, overcoming several dropped passes by his receivers to finish of a 92-yard game-winning march capped with a 26-yard touchdown pass to rookie wide receiver Torrey Smith with eight seconds left. The drive, which featured key drops by both Smith and Anquan Boldin, gave Flacco 300 yards passing on the day and featured his only scoring throw of the game.

The victory gave the Ravens a series sweep over the Steelers for just the second time ever and marked Flacco's second straight game-winning drive in the fourth quarter. He also helped Baltimore rally from 21 points down the previous week to beat the Arizona Cardinals.

Flacco's eighth career game-winning march helped to further wash the bitter taste of an ugly 12-7 setback to Jacksonville on Oct. 24. Baltimore is now in position to begin a season 7-2 for just the second time in club history, joining the 2006 squad.

Seattle, meanwhile, continues to stumble after a big win over the New York Giants on Oct. 9. The Seahawks went on the bye the following week and have proceeded to score just 28 points over their three-game slide since.

The 'Hawks found themselves even with the Cowboys at halftime last weekend following four combined field goals by the clubs, but a host of penalties and three Jackson interceptions in the second half allowed Dallas to roll to a 23-13 win.

Seattle, which has not led a game at the half this season, is now in danger of losing four in a row for the first time since it closed out a 5-11 campaign in 2009 with four consecutive defeats.

Time & Venue:
- 4:05 PM ET, Sunday, November 13, 2011. CenturyLink Field, Seattle, Washington

Last Week's results:
- Baltimore Ravens (+3) beats host Pittsburgh Steelers 23-20.
- Seattle Seahawks (+11.5) loses to host Dallas Cowboys 23-13.

Last week's ATS:
- Underdog Baltimore Ravens (6-2) wins outright
- Underdog Seattle Seahawks (2-6) loses but covers.

NFL Football Odds: Ravens -7, O/U: 40

Next up:
- Baltimore home to Cincinnati, Sunday, November 20
- Seattle at St. Louis, Sunday, November 20

Smith atoned for his earlier miscues by hauling in the game-winning touchdown. The youngster committed a holding penalty on the game's first play from scrimmage, negating a 76-yard scoring run by Ray Rice, then dropped a potential TD earlier in the decisive drive. Baltimore leads the AFC with 26 sacks. Receiver Anquan Boldin needs 16 yards to reach 9,000 for his career. Linebacker Ray Lewis was fined a reported $20,000 for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Pittsburgh's Hines Ward in the second quarter on Sunday. Ward left the game with concussion-like symptoms and did not return.


Seattle has committed 70 penalties this season, second in the league to Oakland's 84. Marshawn Lynch gained 135 yards on the ground in last week's loss, becoming the first Seahawk to reach the century mark in a regular-season game since Justin Forsett gained 130 on Nov. 29, 2009, against the St. Louis Rams. Lynch has scored both of Seattle's touchdowns over its last three contests. Receiver Deon Butler was activated from the physically-unable-to-perform list Tuesday. Butler has been sidelined since breaking his right leg against San Francisco in December. Seattle made room on the roster by placing fellow receiver Kris Durham on injured reserve with a labrum injury.

The Ravens certainly don't play down to their competition. They are 20-3 versus teams with sub-.500 records under Harbaugh, though two of those setbacks did come this year to an 0-1 Tennessee club and 1-5 Jacksonville.

The Seahawks shouldn't count on getting out to an early lead, which is unfortunate for Jackson and Lynch. Baltimore has yet to allow a point on an opponent's opening drive this season and its 13 first-quarter points allowed is the fewest given up in the NFL.

Lynch seems to be hitting his stride and Carroll doesn't want to shy away from giving him the ball, even against a tough Baltimore defense. It will be on veteran left guard Robert Gallery to get his young linemates -- Russell Okung, John Moffitt and James Carpenter -- ready to face the swarming Ravens.

Seattle has scored a total of 28 points during its losing streak after posting 36 in a road victory over the New York Giants.

The Ravens have allowed 47 points over their last two contests after yielding a total of 50 over the previous four games.

The home team has won five straight meetings in the all-time series.

Seattle is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Baltimore
Seattle is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing Baltimore
Seattle is 4-1-1 ATS in its last 6 games
Baltimore is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Seattle
Baltimore is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Seattle
Baltimore is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games

Carroll said he is disappointed on where the Seahawks are at right now, so one has to wonder just how he will be feeling on Monday after this tough game. Baltimore's defense is primed to punish Jackson into mistakes all day, meaning containing Lynch will be the key to a blowout victory.

The Ravens' offense has been inconsistent at times, but Flacco has performed well over the past few weeks and should be in for another good game against Seattle's young secondary. Expect both teams to continue to in the directions they were headed in prior to this meeting.

Bet on NFL Football games with Bodog Sportsbook, click here!

NFL Football Pick: Take Ravens.

Related Articles

Category

Tags

anquan boldin - arizona cardinals - baltimore ravens - centurylink field - deon butler - hines ward - james carpenter - joe flacco - john moffitt - justin forsett

Share this page