Commanders vs Ravens: Updated Odds, Picks, Predictions

This might as well be the Super Bowl of the preseason.

That would be the case for any game involving the Ravens, who are in the midst of a preseason dynasty, having won 22 straight games in August. In their way now are the Washington Commanders.

This is a classic DMV rivalry game. Can the Commanders end Baltimore's stellar streak and claim whatever local bragging rights that are on the line?

Chris Raybon lays out how he's betting this matchup below.

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Ravens ML -220

Chris Raybon: When asked if his starters would play, Commanders head coach Ron Rivera used the phrase “very limited” four times in a row. And as long as we don’t expect a team to go all out, there’s no reason to stop backing The Greatest Preseason Team in NFL History.

Baltimore has won its last 22 preseason games since 2016 and is 42-12 (78%) all-time in the preseason under John Harbaugh.

In fact, if you read between the lines, it’s pretty clear Rivera will not go out of his way to try and end the Ravens’ streak:

"You go into every game expecting to win. Good for them. It’s their thing. It’s what they’re doing," Rivera said Tuesday. "They come out and they play a specific way. Good for them. Our job is to go out and make sure our guys are playing, growing and getting better as football players."

Baltimore’s starting quarterback will again be Tyler Huntley, who is comparable to any quarterback on Washington’s roster. Huntley’s QBR last season (49.0) was not far behind that of Carson Wentz (54.7) and was ahead of Taylor Heinicke (39.9), per Football Outsiders.

Huntley has completed an absurd 29-of-32 passes (91%) with two TDs and no turnovers this preseason and knows how to run the offense. Against Washington in the preseason last year, he lit up Rivera’s squad for 284 yards with four TDs and no interceptions.

Washington will likely go with rookie Sam Howell at QB for most of the night. The rookie third-round pick has completed only 55.6% of his passes with no TDs and one interception this preseason.

Because my unit size is toward the high end, I prefer to play the moneyline and take what feels like guaranteed ROI at this point. The spread has still been profitable, as the Ravens have gone 19-2-1 (90%) against the spread during their streak, though a better way to look at it is they have won 15 of the 22 games (68%) by seven or more.

Since Wentz is expected to get a series or two, you could also try and get a better number live if Washington goes up early.

Pick: Ravens -275 (bet to -300)