Baltimore Ravens vs. Miami Dolphins Predictions ATS
Baltimore Ravens (6-2 SU, 3-5 ATS) vs. Miami Dolphins (2-7 SU, 3-5-1 ATS)
Week 10 NFL
Date/Time: Thursday Night Football, November 11, 2021 at 8:20PM EST
Where: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami, Florida
TV: Fox/NFL Network
Point Spread: BAL -7.5/MIA +7.5 (MyBookie – A lot of bettors took a fat hit last week with so many big favorites getting beat straight up. You can fix your bankroll issue by taking advantage of a 100% bonus up to $300 when you use bonus code PREDICT100 during the registration process at MyBookie!)
Over/Under Total: 47.5
The Baltimore Ravens come to Hard Rock Stadium to take on the Miami Dolphins on Thursday Night Football. The Ravens were able to push it to 6-2 on Sunday, coming back from multiple double-digit point deficits, taking it to overtime, and finally beating the Vikings, 34-31. Now on the short week after a game that went deep into overtime, they turn their attention to the Dolphins. On Sunday, Miami was able to score their second win of the season by beating the beleaguered Texans, 17-9, for their second win of the season. Can they get on a roll, or will the Ravens continue what they started on Sunday?
The Hard Facts
Baltimore looked good coming off the bye on Sunday. Lamar Jackson was up to his own tricks, throwing for three TDs and running for 120 yards. Even with the injuries to different members of their backfield, they can still run the ball well, even with discarded old-timers Le’Veon Bell and Devonta Freeman now leading the way. With a cast of guys like Marquise Brown, Mark Andrews, Rashod Bateman, and others, Jackson can flex the aerial part of his game, which he tends to do against substandard pass-defenses like what Miami brings to the table.
Then you look on the other sideline, and it’s an offensive recipe for Miami that has fallen flat. Without Tua, they are working with Jacoby Brissett. And they can’t run the ball—not even a lick. With DeVante Parker always banged up at receiver, they’re left with Jaylen Waddle, a nice piece, but not as a featured weapon in your offense. Mike Gesicki is a nice option as a tight end. So, all in all, it’s a stark contrast between the abundance of talent and offensive wherewithal on Baltimore and the dearth of options on the Miami offense.
Optimism for Miami
Despite the discrepancy in the state of each team, they have both been exactly the same at the betting windows from a spread perspective. Neither team has really been great from that vantage point, with six combined covers heading into week ten. Miami, for a change, had a pretty easy week beating the hapless Texans, and they are now nice and dug in at home. Baltimore came off the bye leading to their OT win over Minnesota on Sunday at home, so perhaps expecting them to be dragging into Miami is just wishful thinking for potential Miami backers. But it was a real battle that lasted nearly five quarters against the Vikings, where they had to battle hard to come out of multiple deep holes. A short week might not be what the doctor ordered.
It’s perhaps not promising when all the best ammo for Miami are things having nothing to do with the on-the-field play. But without Tua especially, and even with him to some degree, the Dolphins have fallen to pretty unexplainable depths this season. Coming off a ten-win year, it’s hard to identify how things soured so dramatically on both sides of the ball. Injuries are one thing, but it has gotten ugly. Only Houston’s woeful state allowed the ‘Fins to avoid another embarrassment in week nine. And after repelling a Minnesota team that is chock-full of weaponry, one could see the Ravens letting their guards down some this week against what’s been one of the worst teams in the league this season.
A lackadaisical Baltimore team could give this Miami squad an “in.” The fact is that the Texans offense had looked better this season with Tyrod Taylor in there, and they got nowhere against Miami, whose defense got four turnovers, with a big pass-rush delivering. The previous week against Buffalo, it was a grind until Buffalo saw some success in the fourth quarter. In other words, maybe the Miami “D” is getting it together a little bit. And they’ll need it because hoping the offense will perform well is something that hasn’t been paid off much this season.
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What to Expect
As of press time, Tua’s status is a bit unclear. His status came down to game-time last week, but a broken finger and a rib injury doesn’t seem like anything that can clear up by Thursday. With him, there is some aerial upside to the offense that makes them semi-respectable, even in this context. And maybe last week painted them in a good light, but I think it’s important to wrap one’s head around how bad the Dolphins are. Maybe a few weeks ago, the Baltimore team that was battered by Cincinnati would be more up their alley. Coming off the bye and showing ample fire in rallying to an overtime win against the Vikes shows a team that might be a bit out of Miami’s depth.
This is a spot where the playmaking of the Baltimore defense can resonate, not being run ragged by stars on the opposing offense. It’s not a part of the Baltimore equation that bears as much promise as the other side of the ball, so maybe Miami can do some damage here. If they do, it stands to pale in comparison to the damage that will be levied by Lamar Jackson and Company. It’s going to be an uphill battle, to say the least. Lamar Jackson and a backup for a 2-7 team represent the polar opposites of the NFL quarterback spectrum.
Lay the Points on the Road Favorite
There is an avenue for success for Miami, at least to where they can cover the spread. If the defense can show resistance in this heightened context, they stand a chance. Against a Baltimore defense that isn’t impenetrable, perhaps they can gain yardage on the ground or establish a vertical game, And if the Ravens perceive this subconsciously as a week-off, the “Fins can maybe be in this. I just don’t see as many things needing to go right for the Ravens in order for their operations to thrive this week. I see a conclusive win on Thursday for the Ravens.
Loot’s Prediction to Cover the Point Spread: I’m betting on the Baltimore Ravens minus 7.5 points. Question: Ever live bet a game? The live wagering platform at Bovada Sportsbook is the bomb! Way better than the rest! Most bookies only offer a live line during commercials and halftimes. Bovada offers a line the whole game! Check’em out!
