Patriots vs. Ravens Pick & Odds: 2010 NFL Wildcard Game: January 10th 2010

Patriots vs. Ravens
Free Pick: Baltimore +3.5 -110 odds
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When you’re talking Ravens football, you’re talking about a hard-nosed bunch that can make life a living nightmare for opposing quarterbacks. Baltimore ranked #3 in the league in total defense in ‘09 (300.5 yards per game) and finished the regular season in the Top-10 in every major category. Offensively, look no further than RB Ray Rice to find the heart of the unit. He ran for 1,339 yards and received for another 702, reaching the end zone a total of eight times. RB Willis McGahee is his right-hand man, rushing for 544 yards and 12 TDs in a limited role on the season.

New England’s offense is going to look a heck of a lot different without the services of WR Wes Welker. Welker, who finished the year with the second most catches in a season in the history of the NFL (123), will be out for the duration of the season after suffering a brutal looking knee injury against Houston.

In Week 4, the Pats handed Baltimore its first loss of the season 27-21. On that day, Brady completed 21 of his 32 passes for 258 yards and a TD. However, without Welker in the lineup (who caught six passes for 48 yards in the victory), things are going to be a heck of a lot more difficult for the New England offense. Rice poked holes in the Patriots’ defense all day, rushing for 103 yards on 11 carries and picking up another 49 yards through the air. Baltimore has everything it takes to win this game outright, as it came within a few yards of beating New England in Foxboro earlier this year. Though it registered 10 wins, New England just doesn’t look to be its dominant self. Gone are the days of laying DD’s with Brady in the post-season; just take a look at this line. The window of opportunities slowly been closing on the Pats; look for the Ravens to slam it shut today!

Play On: Baltimore Ravens