Titans vs. Ravens Thursday NFL odds, trends: Baltimore on 20-game preseason win streak, excellent against spread

We don't address a ton of NFL preseason news in this space other than potential injuries suffered in those games, but whenever the Baltimore Ravens play their first exhibition game of a given summer, we must address the incredible success the team has had in the preseason under coach John Harbaugh. The Ravens take a 20-game preseason winning streak into Thursday when they host the Tennessee Titans.

If you have followed the Harbaugh brothers in their careers – of course, John's brother Jim coaches at Michigan – every game matters to them. John Harbaugh's teams are 40-12 straight up in preseason games and 37-15 against the spread, a cover percentage of 71.1 percent. In Week 1 games, Harbaugh's teams are 12-1 ATS.

The 20-game preseason winning streak is an NFL record, breaking the mark of 19 straight by Vince Lombardi's Green Bay Packers from 1959-62. During the run, the Ravens have outscored opponents 477-219. Baltimore's last loss was the finale of the 2015 exhibition schedule in Atlanta when the club finished 1-3 overall and then struggled to a 5-11 mark in the regular season.

Last year, the Ravens edged the Saints 17-14 in the preseason opener and then outscored the Panthers and Commanders a combined 57-3.

"Everything we do is 100%," veteran safety Tony Jefferson said to the Baltimore Sun on the team's preparation and focus on the details. "As long as you're not making the same mistakes, I feel like that gives you the ability to play fast, and I think that's kind of the main key when you go out in preseason games — just play fast. It's not like a big game plan that you really have to study; it's pretty vanilla."

Harbaugh has announced that a handful of key players will not take the field Thursday, including quarterback Lamar Jackson (who still hasn't gotten his contract extension), Pro Bowl tight end Mark Andrews, outside linebacker Justin Houston, cornerback Marlon Humphrey and safety Marcus Williams.

On the flip side, the Titans are 4-7 in preseason games under Mike Vrabel (there was no preseason in 2020) and 4-6-1 ATS. Vrabel is 2-1 ATS in Week 1 games. Tennessee easily won 23-3 in Atlanta to kick off the 2021 exhibition season. QB Ryan Tannehill and RB Derrick Henry both sat out last year's preseason and Henry is not expected to play this year either. 

Which Fantasy Football sleepers, breakouts and busts should you target and fade? And which QB shocks the NFL with a top-five performance? Join SportsLine now to get Fantasy Football cheat sheets for every single position, all from the model that called Jonathan Taylor's huge season, and find out.