Championship Weekend!!!
NFL/Early: Ravens @ Patriots (-7)
Ravens +7.5, Ravens TT OVER 21.5 (up to 24), Ravens ML...and quite possibly Pats TT UNDER 28+
So, the Ravens Offense looked a little rough around the edges last week, but that was against a Houston Defense that from a statistical standpoint, was among the best, if not THE BEST Defense in the NFL. New England's D isn't anywhere in the same ballpark. The last 3 times these teams have met, it's been in New England. Ravens-Patriots: 21-27, 33-14, 20-23. Scored 20+, haven't given up more than 27. Ravens have improved on offense and are a more complete team. Patriots improved on offense as well, but the defense is in a dramatic decline.
Denver was a playoff-caliber team in name only. From a statistical standpoint, they didn't belong. Against other, legitimate playoff-caliber teams, the Pats went 0-2 this season: vs Giants, @ Steelers...
...Ravens are now 7-0...SEVEN AND ZERO, vs playoff caliber teams.
Closest team resembling the Ravens from a statistical standpoint that the Pats have played was Miami, who you could call a poor man's Ravens. Miami gave the Pats a lot of trouble. Pats were down 21-0 to a less than average Bills squad in the last game of the Season, and pounded a bad Broncos squad that was ripe for a butt-kicking last week. Can't lay 7+ vs the best team the Patriots will have faced all season. Just can't.
Ravens at least will cover 7, if not win outright. They stand a great chance to go over 21 points, and keep the Pats under 28, win or lose.
I still haven't figured out the late game, but early on, it looks to me like the Ravens are an incredibly safe play.
Good Luck!!!