This Thursday, the Baltimore Ravens will be hosting the Miami Dolphins to bring us Week 8’s chapter of Thursday Night Football. US sportsbook players might not get that excited about a matchup between these two football teams, but at the very least fans can get excited about seeing an epic clash of colors this Thursday night as the all-purples will take on the all-oranges. Let’s take a look at which color NFL bookmakers will be siding with this Thursday.
Betting Orange (Miami)
Dolphins fans were hoping that 2017 would bring good days for Miami, but those hopes took a dent went the injury bug went after starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill. The loss sent the franchise scurrying for a replacement and they ultimately settled on Jay Cutler – a move the best online sportsbooks graded questionable at best. With Cutler under center, the Dolphins’ offense have stumbled to a penultimate ranking in terms of scoring, and a 32nd ranking in total offense, giving Miami the worst offense in the NFL. Somehow, these lackluster statistics seem anything but surprising considering who Miami elected to bring in as a backup.
But even with Cutler barely stoking the fires of the Dolphins’ offense, Miami has been able to post a 4-2 record this season. That eye-raising tally is good enough to tie the Fins alongside the Buffalo Bills for the No. 2 spot in the AFC East. Miami is 1 game behind the 5-2 Pats and a win against Baltimore will go a long way in closing that gap. However, US sportsbooks don’t see a way Cutler and friends can overcome the league’s 18th best total defense, that ranks 13th in points allowed per game as well.
Betting Purple (Baltimore)
The Ravens are coming off a disappointing season and disappointment has been a hallmark of Baltimore’s 2017 season as well. The black and purple got off to a great start in 2017 by picking up back to back wins over AFC North rivals, to give them a leg up in the divisional race. But then came a 44-7 blowout loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars over in the UK. Looking back, it’s clear that the Ravens haven’t been able to recoup their confidence. Baltimore has gone 1-3 since that overseas contest, with their only win coming against the Derek Carr-less Oakland Raiders. Picking off a team without a quarterback isn’t much of a noteworthy accomplishment in a league where your chances of winning a football game are directly related to the talent you wield at the quarterback position.
As usual, the Ravens’ disappointing offense is being carried by their defense. Only Baltimore’s defense isn’t as elite as their Super Bowl winning days. The Ravens may be 13th in the NFL in points allowed, but they rank dead last in the league against the run. If teams can run all over you, they’ll be able to implement different facets of their offense with greater efficacy, ultimately resulting in an even more tedious situation for the Ravens defense. Luckily for Baltimore, they’ll only be going up against Jay Cutler. And considering that Miami ranks 29th in rushing, it’s safe to say that the Fins won’t be having a monster day on the ground this Thursday.
US Sportsbook Betting Lines & Odds:
Miami Dolphins +3 (+105) 37 ½ (-110)
Baltimore Ravens -3 (-125) 37 ½ (-110)
