NFL Football
2007-12-23 - Baltimore Ravens at Seattle Seahawks
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
Sunday, December 23, 4:15 p.m. ET
Qwest Field, Seattle, Washington
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
Seattle have already clinched the NFC West with their 9-5 record, but will be looking to tie up the number 3 seed in the NFC. To do so means winning their last 2 games, or winning 1 and Tampa Bay winning 1, or Tampa losing both their remaining games. Seattle cannot do any better than the number 3 seed meaning they will be entertaining somebody on the first week of the playoffs as Green Bay are already 3 games ahead in the number 2 position.
Seattle are solid at home as usual and have produced a 6-1 record there. They lost their match at Carolina last week which snapped a 5 match winning run. Seattle do have to protect their 4 game winning run at home. Since moving to a pass first offense, Seattle had scored at least 24 points in 7 straight matches before being restricted to 10 last week. In their last 4 home wins, Seattle beat Chicago by 7 points but won the other 3 by double digit scores.
Seattle are most likely having to make do without their wide receiver DJ Hackett again this week.
BALTIMORE RAVENS
Baltimore could not have expected to be sitting at 4-10 at this stage of the season at the beginning of the year, especially after going 13-3 last season. They are 4th in the AFC North and have nothing left to play for this season. A few rookies may be given opportunities during the last 2 games as Baltimore begin looking towards next year.
The Ravens are 1-6 on the road and are currently on a 9 match losing run. Last week they continued plunging to the depths as they gave Miami their first win of the season. The offense is not scoring enough points and the defence is suffering from so many injuries that they cannot keep teams from scoring points on them. Brian Billick was assured of his job as head coach this week.
Kyle Boller is out so Troy Smith will get his first NFL start as QB in one of the loudest stadiums in the country. Simari Rolle was placed on injured reserve as the defence took another casualty and Ray Lewis has missed practice all week so will be a game time decision. Todd Heap misses another week as does Daniel Wilcox. The Ravens just seem so banged up at the moment.
HEAD TO HEAD AND STATISTICS
These 2 teams have only met once in recent times when Baltimore won here 44-41 in overtime.
Seattle are 8-6 ATS this season and a solid 5-2 at home. Baltimore are 2-12 ATS and have lost all 7 on the road this season. It is interesting to note that Seattle are 6-2 on field turf ATS while the Ravens have lost their only game on the surface this year.
The weather suggests there will be rain come time of kick off in Seattle and this may make it difficult for the young QB of Baltimore. Seattle are mainly a passing team at the moment and will hope the wind stays down as expected so as to not really effect their game.
PREDICTION
Back to back road games is tough, but back to back at opposite ends of the country is incredibly difficult yet that is what the Ravens face this week.
With a rookie on board, little motivation except pride and a huge number of injuries to their strong defensive unit means I can only see one winner.
The Pick :
BALTIMORE RAVENS 10-27 SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
Gooner’s Statistical Value Bet
Take SEATTLE to cover -10.5 POINTS
