The Baltimore Ravens will host the Houston Texans in the AFC Divisional Round on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. ET (ESPN, ABC, ESPN+).
As the conference’s top seed, Baltimore had the luxury of a first-round bye. Meanwhile, the AFC South champion Texans beat the Browns 45-14 in their Wild Card opener.
These teams met in Week 1, with Baltimore winning 25-9.
What should bettors expect? We break down the NFL Divisional odds and give our best bets for Texans-Ravens.
Texans vs Ravens Odds
NFL odds used for this Houston vs Baltimore preview were found at DraftKings Sportsbook and are current as of Jan. 16 at noon ET.
- Moneyline: Ravens (-380) • Texans (+300)
- Spread: Ravens -9 (-108) • Texans +9 (-112)
- Total Points: Over 44.5 (-118) • Under 44.5 (-108)
- Implied Score: Ravens 26.75, Texans 17.75
Texans vs Ravens Predictions
Score Pick: Ravens 30, Texans 20
It’s easy to be smitten by the surprising Texans, who seemingly came out of nowhere with a rookie coach and quarterback to win the AFC South.
C.J. Stroud picked apart Cleveland’s vaunted defense in the Wild Card round, passing for 236 of his 274 yards and three touchdowns in the first half. He became only the second quarterback since 2012 to win his playoff debut.
Since their first meeting, Stroud has blossomed into one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks. He’s certainly talented enough to keep this close for a while.
That said, the Ravens benefited from a bye week as the AFC’s No. 1 seed and will be rested as they resume their pursuit of a Super Bowl. They went 6-1 down the stretch, with the only loss coming in Week 18 to Pittsburgh with Tyler Huntley under center.
Baltimore is arguably the league’s most balanced team, with the MVP favorite in Lamar Jackson and the top-ranked scoring defense to boot. That’s simply too much for the Texans to overcome.
Texans vs Ravens Best Bets & Props
Ravens -9 (-112)
DraftKings Sportsbook • WAGER: 1 unit
Stroud was far less effective on the road this season, where he threw only six touchdowns in seven games and registered a QB rating of 91.5. The Texans went 3-4, including a 25-9 loss to Baltimore in Week 1, in which Stroud went 28 of 44 for 242 yards.
The Texans may be ascending, but they’re still nowhere near the level of the Ravens, who have five double-digit victories against playoff teams and lead the league with a plus-203 point differential.
Thus, I’m taking the Ravens – who are also 11-6 ATS — at -9 as my NFL bet of the day.
Over 44.5 (-118)
DraftKings Sportsbook • WAGER: 1 unit
Baltimore is averaging 31.8 in five games since the Week 13 bye. That number is even more impressive considering a majority of its starters, including Jackson, didn’t play in the regular-season finale.
If Houston can protect Stroud, who was sacked five times in the teams’ first meeting, there could be some opportunities downfield to keep pace.
I’m anticipating both offenses doing enough to push the total over 44.5.
Ravens Over 27.5 (+110)
DraftKings Sportsbook • WAGER: 1 unit(s)
This might feel like a high bar to clear, but it’s really not considering how efficient Baltimore has looked. Despite injuries, the Ravens have topped 30 points in eight of the last 10 games in which Jackson played.
I’d be surprised if they don’t approach that total again, especially with an extra week of preparation.
Houston’s defense has been vulnerable through the air, allowing the 10th-most passing yards per game (234.1).
Texans vs Ravens Same Game Parlay
Texans vs Ravens SGP (+325)
DraftKings Sportsbook • WAGER: 1 unit
- Ravens -9 (-108)
- Over 44 (-110)
- Ravens 1st to Score (-200)
The Ravens are 13-3 under John Harbaugh, coming off an extra week of rest, and they have as good a chance at running the table as any time in his tenure as head coach.
Expect Baltimore to start fast and jump on the board early, thus forcing the Texans to play catch-up through the air.
Although Baltimore excelled at defending the pass and led the NFL in sacks, I’d be surprised if the Ravens completely shut down Stroud and the Texans’ resurgent offense.
