NFL Betting – Ravens at Chiefs Same Game Parlay

Ravens at Chiefs Same Game Parlay Recap

If the opening game of the 2024 NFL season is a preview of things to come it’s going to be a great year. We won’t always have a rematch of the AFC Championship game, but we did on the first Thursday of the campaign to get the NFL betting season underway. They say football is a game of inches and the matchup between the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens proved that. It was also a game of inches on our opening NFL same game parlay.

Closing as a 2.5-point NFL betting line favorite, the Chiefs held on for the 27-20 victory with the help of an overturned touchdown call on the game’s final play. Led by reigning MVP Lamar Jackson, who threw for 273 yards and a touchdown with an additional 122 yards on 16 rushing attempts, the Ravens amassed 452 total yards, but they were just 1 of 4 in the red zone. The last trip was painful for them. Jackson’s pass to Isaiah Likely in the back of the end zone was caught and ruled a TD. However, after video review it was determined the tip of Likely’s shoe landed on the out of bounds maker and the call was overturned.

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Points on that play didn’t matter as far as the total was concerned. The teams cashed the OVER when Justin Tucker hit a 32-yard field goal with just under five minutes left in the fourth quarter for the final points. It looked like a shootout at the start with both teams scoring on their first possession. Derrick Henry scored on a 5-yard run for a 7-0 Ravens lead. Xavier Worthy countered with a 21-yard TD scamper a few minutes later to tie it. 

The hope is that our NFL same game parlay picks fare better as the season progresses. We lost both legs on the ticket with the teams going over the total by a half point. And Baltimore’s lack of success in the series should have been cause for concern. The Chiefs have now won six of the last seven meetings between the AFC heavyweights.

Ravens at Chiefs Same Game Parlay Picks

Baltimore +3 (Lost)

Baltimore / Kansas City UNDER 46.5 (Lost)

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With the silliness that is the NFL preseason behind us it’s time for the real games to begin, which means we’ll also see the stars that make the Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl favorites in the NFL futures market at BetMGM. Last year’s MVP Lamar Jackson led the Ravens to the best record in the league with former MVP Patrick Mahomes getting the last laugh, however. The Chiefs advanced to and won their second straight Lombardi Trophy beating Baltimore, 17-10, in the AFC Championship. 

The Ravens were one of the more profitable teams in the 2023 regular season going 11-6 as an NFL betting pick. The Chiefs were only 9-8 against the NFL betting line, but they turned it on near the end of the campaign winning and covering the last two regular season games and all four playoff encounters, including an outright victory over San Francisco to claim their third Super Bowl in five seasons. The Chiefs have won five of the last six meetings but they are just 3-3 as a NFL pick against the spread in that span.

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Ravens at Chiefs NFL Odds

Baltimore +3 / +128 ML

Chiefs -3 / -152 ML

Total 46.5

There are always a number of things to consider when betting on the opening week of NFL games. Regulars saw little if any action during the preseason and while they’ve been playing football for most of their adult lives, there is something to be said about being in “game shape.” I’m not sure the Chiefs are too concerned since Patrick Mahomes can roll out of bed and sling it all over the yard. And he’s had success against what’s been a terrific Baltimore defense over his career. In four regular season starts Mahomes has completed nearly 72 percent of his passes for 1,479 yards and 12 touchdowns with only two picks in 163 attempts. And the Chiefs scored at least 27 points in every game.

Given their history we know KC will be able to score. They had finished among the top six in points per game in each of Mahomes’ first five seasons as the starter twice leading the NFL in that category. Last year, the team did an about face relying on a stingy defense to win another NFL title. Long a weak spot with the Chiefs, defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo turned things around with the help of Chris Jones and George Karlaftis, who each recorded 10.5 sacks helping the Chiefs go 11-5-1 as a NFL bet against the UNDER.

With Baltimore finishing first and KC second last season in fewest points allowed, it was no surprise that the AFC Championship was a heated defensive struggle. Mahomes threw 39 passes completing 30 for 241 yards. The Chiefs, meanwhile, held Lamar Jackson to 20 of 37 passing for 272 yards. LJ rushed for 54 yards on eight carries, but was otherwise a non-factor as the Ravens totaled 336 yards and 16 first downs.

Jackson is considered among the elite NFL signal-callers, but to reach the standards of Mahomes he’ll have to get the Ravens a Super Bowl victory. Last season may have been their best chance as they ranked among the top six on both offense and defense in points and yards. Jackson had a career year throwing the football and continues to be a threat on the ground frustrating opposing defenses. He set career-highs in pass completions, completion percentage and passing yards while throwing only seven interceptions.

It was another solid season on defense, too. The Ravens led the NFL in fewest points allowed finishing among the top three for the fifth time in the last six seasons. They were disruptive as well leading the league with 60 sacks.

Jackson has been phenomenal during the regular season winning 58 of his 77 career starts, and the Ravens are always a threat when he’s in the game. What has to change is his play in the postseason, where he’s just 2-4 as a starter with as many interceptions thrown as TD passes. This isn’t a playoff game and I expect LJ will be at his best. And with both clubs looking strong defensively again, I’m backing the UNDER on my NFL same game parlay.

Ravens vs. Chiefs Same Game Parlay Picks

Baltimore +3

Baltimore / Kansas City UNDER 46.5

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