Miami Dolphins at Baltimore Ravens
Sunday, 11/7/2010, 1:00 PM EST, TV: CBS
Opening Point Spread: Baltimore -4
Current Betting Line: Baltimore -5
Opening Total: 39.5
Current Total: 41
Current Moneyline: Baltimore -230 / Miami +190
Miami is a perfect 4-0 on the road this season and placekicker Dan Carpenter may be the most important player in this game come the fourth quarter. He has made five field goals in consecutive games. “He’s a luxury to have,” said head coach Tony Sparano. “It’s a hard way to do it, but we’re doing it.” The Dolphins are only the fifth team in NFL history to go 4-0 on the road and 0-3 at home in their first seven games. This will be the eighth regular-season meeting between the two teams and Miami leads the series, 5-2, as the Ravens have won both playoff meetings. Miami’s rushing attack has not been as potent as last year’s that finished ranked fourth in the league, averaging just 111.3 yards per game, which is 16th in the NFL. The team is 14-5 ATS on the road the past three years and is currently getting five points on the NFL lines page.
The Dolphins finally tallied its first rushing touchdown in over 180 carries last week, a stretch that lasted all the way back to Week 1 at Buffalo. Miami is averaging 3.8 yards per carry, while the Ravens are surrendering 4.2 on the ground per touch to opponents. Offensively, the team may be best served to attack Sunday’s opponent through the air, as the Baltimore secondary has been scorched for 318.7 yards on average over the last three contests, including 382 yards versus the Bills. Quarterback Chad Henne is 6-1 as a starter when he has 30 pass attempts or less and 5-8 when throwing for more.
Baltimore defensive end Terrell Suggs is expecting a “playoff type” atmosphere on Sunday afternoon and his team will look to push its home record to a perfect 4-0 on the year. “Something’s got to give,” said Suggs. “They’re going to come in here and they’re going to try to get a win. We’re definitely going to defend our home.” Over the past decade, the Ravens have the third-best home record in the NFL at 61-22, trailing only the New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts. The squad is 15-4 since head coach Jim Harbaugh took over in 2008 at home. Baltimore is 2-0 ATS after a bye week and 12-7 ATS at home the past three years.
The Ravens know what they need to do in order to stay atop the AFC North Division and already own a road victory over the Steelers. “Coming off the bye week we have to have a clear understanding of what we have to do and that’s take care of business,” said tight end Todd Heap. “We’re in a good position right now. Baltimore has been great off the bye since the 2002 campaign, posting a 7-1 mark and winning both games under Harbaugh by an average of 20.5 points. The Ravens have their most dominant win of the season at home, but they’ve also had to come from behind twice against Cleveland and Buffalo.
Bettors will note that the Dolphins are 13-3 ATS in their last 16 games as a road underdog, while the Ravens are 7-2 ATS following a bye week.
Don’t even think about playing Sunday’s games until you check out the 20-unit NFL Game of the Year at Maddux Sports from the best NFL handicappers around.
