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Ravens - Cowboys betting trends: Pick, odds, point spread and over/under prediction | NFL week 3

The Cowboys welcome the Ravens in a week three game that both need to win as their seasons each get off to a sluggish start.

PATRICK SMITHAFP

The Baltimore Ravens, sitting at 0-2, are heading to Arlington, Texas, for an intense Week 3 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, who are 1-1. The game kicks off Sunday afternoon at 4:25 p.m. ET from AT&T Stadium, with Baltimore favored by a single point and the over/under set at 48.5. The Ravens are listed as -115 favorites on the moneyline, while Dallas comes in at -105, a sign this game is expected to be tightly contested.

The Ravens’ record doesn’t really tell the whole story. They’ve dropped two games by narrow margins, and they could easily be sitting at 2-0 if a few plays had gone their way. Their opener against the Chiefs was a battle that slipped away late, and last week against the Raiders, they controlled most of the game before losing their grip in the final quarter. Now, they face the Cowboys in a high-profile showdown, which might be just what they need to right the ship.

The Cowboys, meanwhile, have their own issues to figure out. Dak Prescott hasn’t found his rhythm yet, and the team ran into a buzzsaw last week, getting routed by the Saints. While they did manage a touchdown pass to CeeDee Lamb, that was one of the few bright spots. The offense as a whole has looked sluggish, and the defense has more than a few holes to patch up.

Betting Odds and Picks for Ravens vs. Cowboys

Looking at the odds, Baltimore is favored by just 1 point, which suggests a close game, but one that oddsmakers expect them to win. The over/under is set at 48.5 points. For those looking to bet, the Ravens on the moneyline at -115 seems like the safer play. While the spread is razor-thin, Baltimore has the firepower and desperation to get their first win of the season.

  • Spread: Ravens -1
    Over/Under: 48.5 points
    Moneyline: Ravens -115 | Cowboys -105
    Pick: Ravens ML -115

Ravens Offense Rolling, Cowboys Stuck in Neutral

Baltimore’s offense is humming, led by Lamar Jackson, who has thrown for 520 yards and added another 167 on the ground. They’re averaging a solid 5.7 yards per carry, and the combination of Jackson’s dual-threat ability and Derrick Henry’s power running will be a lot for the Cowboys defense to handle.

On the other side, Dallas has struggled to move the ball consistently. Their ground game is averaging just 3.7 yards per carry, and top backs Ezekiel Elliott, Rico Dowdle, and Deuce Vaughn haven’t been able to break through. As a result, the Cowboys are leaning heavily on Prescott, but so far, he hasn’t been able to lift the team on his own. They’ve scored just three touchdowns in two games, and last week’s loss to the Saints was a brutal wake-up call.

The Trends Say Baltimore

One reason to feel good about betting on the Ravens is the historical trends. Teams that start the season 0-2 and lose both games by less than a touchdown tend to bounce back strong in Week 3, especially when facing a team that isn’t also winless. Since 2010, teams in Baltimore’s situation are 28-16-1 against the spread in this scenario. That trend rises to 36-16-1 when facing a team with a 1-1 record, like the Cowboys.

Another point to consider: 0-2 teams that were favored the previous week, as the Ravens were against the Raiders, have an even better record against the spread in Week 3 (19-7-2). These are the kinds of stats that point to Baltimore as a solid bet this week, particularly on the moneyline.

Prediction

The Ravens are hungry for a win and have the offensive firepower to exploit a struggling Cowboys defense. If Baltimore can establish their run game early and keep the pressure on Prescott, this looks like a game they should win. Expect a bounce-back performance from the Ravens, who have more on the line and seem primed to make a statement.

Final Pick: Ravens ML -115

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