NFL Week 13 Predictions: Road Favorites That Will Cover with Ease

When evenly-matched teams play in the NFL, oddsmakers give the benefit of the doubt to the home team more often than not. There is no question that home-field advantage can play a big role at times, but when there is a significant talent disparity, it doesn't come into play as much.

That figures to be the case with quite a few games in Week 13, as many superior teams happen to be on the road. It is certainly possible that those favored teams will be upset, but the higher quality team usually wins out. Here are three road favorites that should cover with ease this weekend.

Baltimore Ravens (-6.5)

While it's true that the Baltimore Ravens have played down to opponents at times this season, I feel like their hard-fought win over the San Francisco 49ers on Thanksgiving will ultimately do a lot for their confidence. The Ravens will partake in the quintessential trap game on Sunday on the road against their AFC North rivals, the Cleveland Browns.

Divisional games are rarely easy, but it is very difficult to imagine Cleveland coming out on top. Not only does Baltimore have the best defense in the NFL, but the Browns have absolutely no offensive weapons to speak of.

The Ravens have run into some trouble this season when their offense becomes stagnant, but I expect running back Ray Rice to run wild against Cleveland's weak run defense en route to a comfortable Baltimore victory.

New York Jets (-3)

With a record of 6-5, the New York Jets certainly haven't lived up their advance billing this season, as they have been the epitome of inconsistency. They are just one game behind the Cincinnati Bengals for the final playoff spot in the AFC currently, though, and I believe that the Jets' big-game experience will allow them to eventually surpass Cincinnati.

If that is going to happen, though, a road win over the lowly Washington Redskins is an absolute must this week. Washington has actually played better over the past couple weeks since re-installing Rex Grossman as the starting quarterback, but they are a team that a playoff-caliber club needs to beat.

The Jets' defense hasn't been as ferocious as usual this season, but tearing apart Grossman and the Washington offense should give them some of their swagger back moving forward.

Atlanta Falcons (-2.5)

For most of this season, a road game against the Houston Texans would have been an extremely difficult venture. While it likely won't be a walk in the park, I don't think the Atlanta Falcons will have much of an issue covering the 2.5-point spread against Houston.

Due to injuries to Matt Schaub and Matt Leinart, rookie quarterback Tyler Yates will make his first career start on Sunday.

As much as the Texans have been known for their offense in recent years, it is the defense that has elevated them to new heights as the AFC South leaders. They will have a major challenge against Matt Ryan, Michael Turner, Roddy White and the explosive Atlanta offense.

Provided the Falcons can put up some points, their defense, which has improved quite a bit since the beginning of the season, should be able to make life tough on Yates.