2011 NFL Preseason: Kansas City Chiefs Against the Spread Woes Continue

The 2011 NFL preseason will likely have its first touchdown-or-more favorite Friday night when the Kansas City Chiefs take on the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium.

Baltimore opened as a modest 3.5-point home favorite Sunday night and quickly moved up to its current standing at 7.0.  Professional bettors are quick to point out that the move has more to do with playing against the Chiefs than backing the Ravens.

Kansas City head coach Todd Haley enters with a dubious 0-9 ATS (against-the-spread) preseason mark, failing to cover the number by an average of 6.77 points per contest. 

Dropping a 25-0 home game to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week did little to ensure bettors that he has changed his ways.

I’m under the impression that a revenge-minded team may show up in a rematch of last year’s 30-7 playoff loss at Arrowhead Stadium.  Baltimore dominated Kansas City by out-gaining them by 229 yards on that January day.

Word out of camp is that the coaching staff spent little time preparing players for this week’s opponent, which has many wondering if the team will be competitive.

Baltimore expects to play in front of full house in its home opener during the exhibition season, coming off a 13-6 road loss to the Philadelphia Eagles as three-point underdogs last week. 

The Ravens will likely display new addition Lee Evans in front of the home crowd, as he was acquired by trade from the Buffalo Bills.  He’s a much-needed deep threat to play opposite wideout Anquan Boldin.

Since the 2000 campaign, Baltimore’s offense has had only two receivers average more than 15 yards per catch for a season, which makes Evans a commodity due to his 15.7 yards-per-catch average over his six-year NFL career.

From a situational standpoint, I’d never suggest laying more than a touchdown during a meaningless game.  Watch the reports out of Kansas City closely, as Haley may decide to send a message to the locker room after last year’s humiliating defeat.