Baltimore Ravens vs. Dallas Cowboys: NFL Preseason Week 2 Betting Odds and Picks

Baltimore Ravens vs. Dallas Cowboys
Saturday, 8/16/14, 7:00 PM EST
Opening Point Spread: Dallas -1
Current Betting Line: Baltimore -1
Opening Total: 40
Current Total: 43
Odds Courtesy of 5Dimes

The Baltimore Ravens are taking to Gary Kubiak's new offensive system — The Baltimore Ravens are taking to Gary Kubiak’s new offensive system

Baltimore earned an impressive 23-3 victory over the San Francisco 49ers as 2.5-point home favorites in its preseason opener, as it won the statistical battle by 199 yards, while going UNDER the betting total of 37. The Ravens are really taking to new offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak’s system, with starting quarterback Joe Flacco completing 4 of 5 passes for 52 yards to four different targets. On the other side of the football, rookie first-round draft choice C.J. Mosley tallied a team-best five tackles, which allowed the group to give up just 187 yards of offense.

The Ravens have a great ability to get after opposing quarterbacks, as outside linebackers Elvis Dumervil and Terrell Suggs combined for 19.5 sacks a year ago. Baltimore is 43-29 SU all time in exhibition play, including a 16-9 mark under current head coach John Harbaugh, which is important to consider when looking over the NFL betting lines. Keep an eye on No. 2 signal-caller Tyrod Taylor in this affair, as the team is trying to keep him in the pocket more after seeing him run five times against the 49ers.

Dallas needs to put together a better performance after dropping a 27-7 decision to the San Diego Chargers as 3.5-point road underdogs last week, as it was outgained by a 121-yard margin, which can’t be ignored when making your pro football picks. The Cowboys are expected to send out quarterback Tony Romo, who is making his first appearance since undergoing back surgery in December. He normally plays 10-14 snaps in his first round of action before the regular season.

The Cowboys will continue to be shorthanded on the defensive side of the ball, as cornerbacks Brandon Carr and Morris Claiborne will not play, while tackle Henry Melton will also be out due to a groin strain. All eyes will be fixated on linebacker Rolando McClain, who continues to battle knee tendinitis, which caused Baltimore to trade him away after selecting him with the eighth overall pick in the 2010 draft.