As the Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills prepare for their highly anticipated Divisional Round playoff matchup, a surprising narrative has emerged: the Ravens are favored by sportsbooks despite playing on the road against a Bills team that went 8-0 at home this season. With a spread of 1 to 1.5 points favoring Baltimore, pundits are debating whether the oddsmakers got it right.

The Case for Buffalo

Paul Pierce, speaking on Fox Sports 1’s Speak, was shocked by the betting line.

“You go on to the road to Buffalo, where Buffalo is undefeated … They have a 133-point differential at home, highest in the NFL, and they’re not the favorite. That doesn’t make sense to me.”

Pierce also noted the Bills’ strong regular-season performance (13-4) and the formidable challenge they pose at Highmark Stadium.

The Case for Baltimore

Keyshawn Johnson, on the other hand, wasn’t surprised that the Ravens are favored. He pointed to their dominant Week 4 performance against Buffalo as a key indicator of their potential to win this game.

“[The Ravens] beat the brakes off of them in Week 4. They’re both different teams, but in Week 4 it was 35-10,” Johnson said.

Johnson also highlighted Buffalo’s recent struggles in the Divisional Round, with back-to-back home losses in the playoffs to the Chiefs and Bengals.

Ravens’ Perspective

Head Coach John Harbaugh acknowledged the difficulty of the challenge ahead but emphasized his team’s readiness.

“These Divisional [Playoff] games are really hard to win because you’re playing the best teams,” Harbaugh said. “[The Bills are] just a super talented, well-coached type of a team. On that stage, in their place – it’s going to be cold; it’s going to be blustery [and] all that.”

Key Factors Behind the Betting Line

1. Week 4 Blowout: Baltimore’s 35-10 win over Buffalo earlier in the season demonstrated their ability to dominate the Bills, though both teams have evolved since.
2. Ravens’ Momentum: Baltimore is riding a five-game win streak, powered by their league-best rushing attack and an improving defense.
3. Bills’ Divisional Struggles: Buffalo’s recent playoff history at home raises questions about their ability to deliver on the big stage.

Final Thoughts

While being favored doesn’t guarantee a victory, it underscores the respect oddsmakers have for Baltimore’s balanced attack and playoff pedigree. Whether the Ravens can justify that confidence on Sunday will depend on their ability to execute against a tough Buffalo team in hostile conditions.

What do you think, Ravens fans? Are the oddsmakers right to favor Baltimore, or does Buffalo’s home dominance make them the true favorites? Let us know in the comments!