Raiders-Ravens 2024 NFL Week 2 Preview And Picks

The Raiders hit the road for a second straight week to start the 2024 season following last week’s 22-10 loss at LA against NFC West rival Chargers. The game was closer than the final score, but still a winner for us on our Week 1 pick on the Chargers. This week’s Raiders-Ravens 2024 NFL Week 2 preview and picks are below with information you can bet on.

Las Vegas Raiders at Baltimore Ravens

Spread: Ravens (-8.5 up to -3), Total down to 41.5.
Opinion: Raiders

I provide weekly NFL underdog picks including for Week 2 with a big card. Each week’s Raiders roundup and picks/opinions are separate, unless mentioned otherwise. The projected rushing edge and guidelines in this Raiders-Ravens matchup (heavily) favors Baltimore, which is a reason I’m not using the Las Vegas Raiders as one of my official NFL underdog picks. Those underdog only picks have hit at a greater than 57% rate the past 7+ seasons including a 70% season in 2021 going 28-12 ATS. Last season our underdog picks went 11-1 in December, and following a 3-1 start last week in Week 1, we’ll continue to shoot for more birdies and green on the gridion while also evaluating the Las Vegas Raiders matchup and game each week.

Not only is there potential for a rushing game route, but the Ravens have the best of it on the sidelines with Harbaugh vs Pierece again and better game planners, play callers and a strong home field with early start for the West coast Raiders. Baltimore also has extra rest having played on Thursday Week 1 to open the sesason, when they  rushed for 185 yards on 32 carries, but lost 27-20 at Kansas City. Both those rushing parameters for the Ravens last week produce better than 75% ATS success, but didn’t win last week.

I’m not laying these big points though with QB Lamar Jackson’s untimely turnovers, which are trumped by Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce’s untimely brain fart last week. The media members and those covering the team don’t want to pound away on Pierce for his clear gaffe last week, but this well-liked coach and leader of men needs an analytics assistant and someone to help him make crucial, in-game decisions. A player making a physical mistake is one thing. Even a late hit or costly penalty another. But a WTF moment by the head coach when punting the ball on 4th and 1 at the opponents 43 yard line trailing by 6 points and 7 minutes remaining in the game is beyond inexcusable. The Raiders 3 turnovers and 3-0 TO differential was the final blow in defeat.

Thus, those type of in-game decisions are also a concern, but we’ll still give an Opinion on the Raiders plus the points but this one I haven’t yet bet, nor the Under game total which has dropped 3 points to 41.5.

The Raiders offense needs a kick start too, before next week’s home opener against the pathetic Panthers and their clueless quarterback.