Baltimore Ravens-Minnesota Vikings Odds and Picks Against the Spread

BALTIMORE RAVENS AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS (-5.5, O/U 39), Sun., 1 p.m. ET

The storylines revolve around QBs. Baltimore’s guy, Joe Flacco, has been unproductive all year: eight interceptions, four touchdowns, 71.9 passer rating.

For Minnesota, it’s the plural “guys.”

Case Keenum has accounted himself well when filling in for on-again, off-again Sam Bradford. Teddy Bridgewater (knee), idled for 14 months, has been cleared to practice. He is presumably not ready, but the Vikes are playing it coy on who gets the call Sunday.

LINE MOVEMENTS, TRENDS

A one-point shift toward the Vikings likely cannot be attributed to the Bridgewater developments as much as the fact that Minnesota is surprisingly better off than Baltimore at QB.

The Ravens are 3-7 against the spread in their previous 10 away games. Their mild 3-1-1 streak in the series is meaningless, given how rarely the teams square off.

BREAKDOWN

It could be a long, frustrating day for the offenses.

The Ravens are tied for second in takeaways (14) and rank fourth with the lowest passer rating by opponents (71.1). The Vikings are permitting an average of 15 points in four home dates while owning the third stingiest rush defense (78.7 yards per game).

Each team claims 16 sacks, tied for seventh-most in the league, and is especially unbending on third downs.

While Flacco ’s job statusappears safe for now, Keenum might deserve to start ahead of Bradford. His passer rating (93.1) ranks 11th, and his interception rate is bettered by only one peer.

No matter who is throwing, WR Stefon Diggs has been impactful at home, with 364 yards and four TDs in the past three appearances. The unsung Adam Thielen tops the league in receiving yards (489) and is second on receptions (38), so the Vikes could survive a less-than-healthy Diggs (groin).

Flacco is no stranger to Minnesota coach Mike Zimmer. He was defensive coordinator with the Bengals for 12 meetings, in which Flacco endured 26 sacks and 15 interceptions for a measly 71.9 passer rating.

PICK

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