2024 NFL Season Begins

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Developing Stories 📰

The 2024 NFL season kicks off with an exciting rematch of last year's AFC Championship Game in Kansas City. The first week opens with the Baltimore Ravens facing off against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on Thursday night. Last season, Baltimore finished with a 13-4 record, securing the AFC North title, while Kansas City went 11-6 and claimed the AFC West crown.

Baltimore earned the top seed in the AFC playoffs with their 13-4 record but fell short in the AFC Championship Game at home. As they aim to take the next step in 2024, the Ravens have made significant roster changes. They acquired running back Derrick Henry from the Titans to fill the lead role after losing Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins to the Chargers in free agency. The Ravens also face challenges with three starting offensive linemen—Morgan Moses, John Simpson, and Kevin Zeitler—no longer on the team, along with key defensive departures like cornerbacks Ronald Darby and Rock Ya-Sin, safety Geno Stone, linebacker Patrick Queen, and edge rushers Jadeveon Clowney and Tyus Bowser. How Baltimore adapts to these changes, particularly on the offensive line, will be crucial for their success this season.

Last year, Baltimore ranked 21st in the league in passing offense, averaging 213.8 yards per game, but led the league in rushing with 156.5 yards per game. They were also fourth in scoring offense with 28.4 points per game and had the best scoring defense, allowing only 16.5 points per game.

Kansas City, on the other hand, won the Super Bowl for the second consecutive year by defeating the 49ers in overtime. This marked their third straight postseason victory by a one-score margin. Despite a winless preseason, the Chiefs are focused on the regular season ahead. The team has undergone some changes, trading cornerback L’Jarius Sneed to the Titans and losing safety Mike Edwards to the Bills. They also need to replace tackle Donovan Smith and guard Nick Allegretti, who was a reliable backup. The Chiefs added wide receivers Hollywood Brown and JuJu Smith-Schuster, and they selected Xavier Worthy in the first round of the NFL Draft.

In 2023, Kansas City ranked sixth in passing offense with an average of 246.4 yards per game, 19th in rushing with 104.9 yards per game, 15th in scoring offense with 21.8 points per game, and second in scoring defense, allowing 17.3 points per game.

Headlines 🚨

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Florida State drops out of the AP top 25 after horrendous 0-2 start.

Penny Hardaway fires four staff members two months before the season starts.

Trends 📈📉 via Oddsshark

⚾️ Astros at Reds

• The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Houston's last 5 games when playing on the road against Cincinnati

⚾️ Nationals at Marlins

• The total has gone OVER in 14 of Miami's last 18 games at home

⚾️ Twins at Rays

• Tampa Bay is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Minnesota

• Tampa Bay is 8-2 ATS in its last 10 games at home

⚾️ Red Sox at Mets

• The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Boston's last 5 games when playing on the road against NY Mets

• The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Boston's last 8 games

• NY Mets is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games

• NY Mets is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games

⚾️ Pirates at Cubs

• Pittsburgh is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Chi Cubs

• Pittsburgh is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games when playing on the road against Chi Cubs

• The total has gone OVER in 4 of Chi Cubs's last 5 games when playing Pittsburgh

• The total has gone OVER in 10 of Chi Cubs's last 13 games

⚾️ Guardians at Royals

• The total has gone OVER in 11 of Kansas City's last 15 games at home

⚾️ Cardinals at Brewers

• The total has gone OVER in 5 of St. Louis's last 5 games on the road

• The total has gone OVER in 5 of St. Louis's last 5 games

• The total has gone OVER in 5 of Milwaukee's last 6 games when playing at home against St. Louis

• Milwaukee is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games at home

⚾️ Yankees at Rangers

• The total has gone OVER in 5 of NY Yankees's last 5 games

• The total has gone OVER in 4 of NY Yankees's last 5 games when playing Texas

• The total has gone OVER in 4 of Texas's last 5 games at home

⚾️ Dodgers at Angels

• LA Dodgers is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games when playing on the road against LA Angels

• LA Dodgers is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against LA Angels

• The total has gone UNDER in 5 of LA Angels's last 6 games when playing at home against LA Dodgers

• The total has gone UNDER in 5 of LA Angels's last 7 games

⚾️ Mariners at A’s

• The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Seattle's last 5 games when playing on the road against Oakland

• The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Seattle's last 5 games when playing Oakland

• Oakland is 8-1 ATS in its last 9 games

⚾️ Tigers at Padres

• The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Detroit's last 7 games

⚾️ Diamondbacks at Giants

• Arizona is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games on the road

• The total has gone OVER in 5 of Arizona's last 5 games

• The total has gone OVER in 5 of San Francisco's last 7 games when playing Arizona

• San Francisco is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games

Public Money 🤑 via VSiN at 9AMCT

⚾️ MLB

50% of bets and 68% of money is on OVER 8.5 WSH at MIA

41% of bets and 65% of money is on OVER 9 HOU at CIN

46% of bets and 72% of money is on MIN -1.5 +140

33% of bets and 69% of money is on BOS -1.5 +160

12% of bets and 48% of money is on COL +230

31% of bets and 80% of money is on KC-1.5 +150

41% of bets and 63% of money is on UNDER 10 LAD at LAA

40% of bets and 57% of money is on UNDER 7.5 SEA at OAK

14% of bets and 38% of money is on DET +170

Future Odds 🔮 via Bovada Sportsbook

Picks 🔒

Chiefs -3 | The Ravens have some gaps to fill on both offense and defense, and it will be intriguing to watch how they fare with three new offensive linemen. On the other hand, Kansas City is in a stronger position than Baltimore. When it comes down to the wire, Mahomes steps up and makes the plays that Jackson doesn’t, which gives the Chiefs the edge to win this matchup.