Baltimore (4-4, 5-3 ATS) at Cleveland (1-7, 3-5 ATS)
The Ravens travel to Cleveland Stadium looking to hand the hapless Browns a fourth straight loss in a battle between AFC North rivals.
Baltimore, which started the season 3-0 SU and ATS but is currently on a 1-4 SU (2-3 ATS) slide, is coming off last Sunday’s 17-7 loss at Cincinnati as a three-point road favorite. The Ravens’ vaunted defense ranks just 13th in the NFL, allowing 320.6 total yards per game, and it is 19th when defending the pass, allowing 225.8 ypg. Meanwhile the offense is 10th in the league, averaging 358.2 yards per contest and 11th in the passing game, netting 242.1 ypg through the air.
Cleveland, outscored 61-9 in its last two games, hasn’t been able to score more than 20 points in any game this season, scoring 14 points or less in four straight contests (7.25 ppg). Additionally, the Browns have produced a single field goal in two games and six points in three others, including a 30-6 loss in Chicago back on Nov. 1 before getting a bye last week. The Browns are dead last in the league in scoring offense (9.8 ppg), 31st in total offense (221.1 ypg) and dead last in passing offense (121.5 ypg).
With their offense stuck in a season-long funk, the Browns are making another QB switch this week, going back to original starter Brady Quinn in place of Derek Anderson. Quinn completed close to 60 percent of his throws in starting the first three games of the season but had just 409 yards, one TD and three INTs, with Cleveland tallying 29 total points while going 0-3 SU and ATS.
The Ravens have won three in a row SU and ATS in this series, including a 34-3 blowout win back on Sept. 27, easily cashing as 13˝-point favorites. Baltimore QB Joe Flacco threw for 342 yards in that game, and the Ravens’ defense picked off four passes, including one from Quinn in the first half and three from Anderson in the second half. Baltimore is just 1-4 ATS in its last four trips to Cleveland, and the home team is on an 8-3 ATS run in this rivalry.
Baltimore’s current 1-4 slump includes three straight road losses (1-2 ATS). Meanwhile, the Browns have lost all three home games (1-2 ATS).
The Ravens are on positive ATS runs of 20-8 overall, 12-5 against AFC teams, 9-4 on the road, 5-1 after a straight-up loss and 10-3 as a favorite, but they’re just 2-9 ATS in their last 11 as a road chalk. Cleveland is on nothing but negative ATS streaks, including 3-10-1 overall, 1-6-1 at home, 1-4-1 in November and 2-9-1 after a straight-up loss. The lone bright spot for the Browns: They went 2-1 SU and ATS in Monday Night Football last year, including a 35-14 rout of the undefeated Giants as a nine-point home underdog.
Baltimore has topped the total in six of Nine November games, seven of nine against losing teams, 10 of 14 on the road (4-1 last five) and four straight Monday contests, however the Ravens have stayed under the total in four straight as a favorite and four of five against AFC teams. The Browns are on “under” streaks of 5-2 overall, 6-2-1 after an ATS loss, 5-2 against the AFC and 18-8-1 on grass.
The over is 4-1-1 in the last six clashes in this rivalry, and the over is 19-6-1 in Monday Night Football games dating back to last season (8-2 this year).
ATS ADVANTAGE: BALTIMORE and OVER
NBA
Portland (8-3 SU and ATS) at Atlanta (8-2 SU, 9-1 ATS)
Two of the hottest teams in the NBA square off inside Philips Arena as the Trailblazers conclude a five-game road trip with a battle against the Hawks.
Portland has rattled off six straight wins and spread-covers, including all four so far on this road trip. Most recently, the Blazers beat the Bobcats 80-74 on Saturday, cashing as a 2˝-point favorite. Portland’s defense is allowing just 83.3 points per game on the road while limiting the opposition to 40 percent shooting from the field. Since a season-opening a 111-107 loss at Houston on Halloween, the Blazers have given up 97 points or fewer in nine straight games, holding six of those opponents to 84 points or less and three of the last four to less than 80 points.
Atlanta has won four in a row SU and ATS and crushed the Hornets 121-98 as a 12˝-point home favorite Saturday. The Hawks are perfect at home this season at 4-0 SU and ATS, averaging 116.5 points a game while allowing just 99.
These squads met back on Nov. 3 in Portland with the Hawks getting the 97-91 upset win as seven-point underdogs. Atlanta has won two straight in this series, including a 98-80 win in March as a four-point home chalk. The visitor is on a 10-2 ATS run in this rivalry, with the Blazers going 5-1 ATS in their last six trips to Atlanta. Also, the underdog has cashed in eight of the last 10 meetings.
Portland comes into this one on several positive ATS streaks, including 24-9 overall, 5-0 on the road, 7-1 on Monday, 5-0 after a spread-cover and 6-1 on the road against teams with a winning home record. Meanwhile, the Hawks are on a plethora of positive ATS runs, including 9-1-1 overall, 18-7-2 at home, 12-3-1 against the Western Conference, 5-0-1 against Northwest Division teams and 3-0-2 on Monday.
The Blazers are on a number of “under” trends, including 12-3 overall, 16-5 on the road, 19-7 on the road against opponents with winning home records, 5-1 against Southeast Division teams and 5-2 against the Eastern Conference. Atlanta has topped the total in four of five against the Western Conference and five of six overall, but it also carries “under” streaks of 7-1 on Monday and 8-3 after getting a day off. Finally, in this matchup, the “over” has been the play in eight of the last 11 meetings.
ATS ADVANTAGE: ATLANTA
Dallas (7-3 SU and ATS) at Milwaukee (5-2 SU and ATS)
The Bucks look to win their fifth straight game when they welcome the Mavericks to the Bradley Center in Milwaukee.
Dallas comes in off Sunday’s 95-90 victory in Detroit, barely cashing as a 4˝-point favorite. The Mavericks have won two of their first three on a four-game road trip (2-1 ATS), and they’re 4-1 SU and ATS in their last five overall. The SU winner has covered the spread in each of the Mavericks’ 10 games this season. Going back to last year, the winner has cashed in 24 of Dallas’ last 26 outings.
Milwaukee has won four straight (3-1 ATS), including all three on a current six-game homestand. Rookie Brandon Jennings scored 55 points on Saturday, including 29 in the third quarter, to lead the Bucks to a 129-125 win over Golden State. However, Milwaukee came up short as 7˝-point home favorite, ending a 5-0 ATS run. The Bucks are averaging 108.8 ppg at home (47.5 percent shooting, tallying 102, 108 and 129 in the last three.
The home team has won five straight (3-2 ATS) and seven of the last eight (6-2 ATS) in this series. Last January at the Bradley Center, the Bucks crushed Dallas 133-99 as a one-point home ‘dog, but went to Dallas a month later and lost 116-96 as a 7˝-point pup. Milwaukee is 7-2 ATS in the last nine meetings with the Mavericks, all as an underdog. Meanwhile, Dallas has failed to cover in nine straight games inside the Bradley Center.
The Mavericks are 7-2 ATS in their last nine overall, but otherwise are on pointspread slides of 3-5 against the Eastern Conference, 10-24-1 against Central Division teams, 1-4 on the second night of a back-to-back, 0-4 on Monday and 2-5 on the road against teams with a winning home record. Meanwhile, Milwaukee is on ATS surges of 5-1 overall, 5-1 at home, 4-1 after getting a day off, 11-3 against Southwest Division teams and 7-2 on Monday.
Dallas has stayed under the total in 16 of 21 when playing the second night of a back-to-back and eight of 10 Monday games. The Bucks are on “under” runs of 6-2-1 overall and 5-1 on Monday, but they’ve topped the total in four of five against the Western Conference and 21 of 31 against Southwest Division teams.
Finally, the “over” is 13-3 in the last 16 meetings between these squads (3-0 last three) and 6-2 in the last eight in Milwaukee.
The sports advisors 11/16
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