When the Ravens (6-2) travel to play the Patriots (3-5) in New England on "Sunday Night Football" (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC) in the penultimate game of Week 10, it will be a matchup of 2019 playoff teams going in different directions in 2020. The Ravens are coming off a big win over the Colts in Week 9, while the Patriots barely beat the Jets on Monday night.
Baltimore will try to get back on track offensively with reigning MVP Lamar Jackson having cooled off with offensive line and receiving corps limitations. New England has struggled defensively with mounting injuries on every level.
Here's everything to know about betting on Patriots vs. Ravens in Week 10, including updated odds, trends and our prediction for "Sunday Night Football."
Patriots vs. Ravens for "Sunday Night Football"
- Spread: Ravens by 7
- Over/under: 43.5
- Point spread odds: Ravens -315, Patriots +265
The Ravens have been holding steady as touchdown favorites since the initial lines. They were impressive in covering on the road against the Colts while the Patriots failed to cover a similar number at the Jets.
Patriots vs. Ravens all-time series
The Patriots lead 10-4. The Ravens rolled last Nov. 3, 37-20 at home. Before that, the Patriots had a three-game winning streak, including in the playoffs after the 2014 season. The teams have met in the playoffs a total of four times, splitting those games. The Patriots opened the rivalry with a five-game winning streak to help keep holding their advantage.
Three trends to know
— 97 of spread bettors are all hard on the Ravens because of recency bias, knowing the Patriots just failed to cover on the road against a lowly team in prime time, although this one is at home.
— 100 percent of over/under bettors like the combined point total to be exceeded, leaning on the Ravens' offense to have a breakout game with Jackson.
— The Ravens are 4-3-1 against the spread this season and four of their games also have gone over. The Patriots are 3-5 against the spread this season and four of their games have gone over.
Three things to watch
The running games
Jackson won't be held back and taking off and running for the Ravens, either on designed plays by offensive coordinator Greg Roman or scrambling for big chunks. The Patriots have leaned a lot of Newton's running, especially in the red zone, to suppot their above-average traditional power attack by committee behind a good run-blocking line. The Patriots have been a reeling run defense of late while the Ravens remain stout up front.
Harbaugh vs. Belichick
John Harbaugh and Bill Belichick have had good coaching battles in the past. When Harbaugh has had his better Ravens' teams, he's been able to go into New England and win in key moments. Belichick is going through some unprecedented woes without Tom Brady. The Ravens will try to outwit the Patriots with versatile schemes on both sides of the ball, while Belichick hopes his defense will be better equipped to slow down Jackson's all-around game than last season.
Who will make the big plays?
The Ravens would like to be more impactful in the passing game by stretching the field to their speedy wide receivers, led by Marquise "Hollywood" Brown. But they haven't the best pass protection, now without left tackle Ronnie Stanley, and Jackson has been more inaccurate with his downfield throws. The Patriots were burned several times by the Jets and former Ravens QB last week. The Patriots got some more juice from Newton and his receivers last week and need to build on that with a deeper corps.
Stat that matters
150.7. That's how many rushing yards per game the Patriots have given up on average over the past three games. They don't have the same healthy depth in the front seven and teams keep pounding away at them, most notably San Francisco and Buffalo in recent victories. The Patriots have no chance against Jackson if they continue to wilt against Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins.
Patriots vs. Ravens prediction
The Patriots will keep playing hard and grinding with Newton and will be challenged by Belichick for a better defensive effort with their fading AFC wild-card hopes on the line. The Ravens will work to control the clock and keep Newton off the field with some big throws by Jackson, with their consistent running putting the game away late.
Ravens 20, Patriots 14
