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The Baltimore Ravens (10-5) and Houston Texans (9-6) meet on Christmas Day. Kickoff from NRG Stadium is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. ET (Netflix). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NFL odds around the Ravens vs. Texans odds, and make our expert NFL picks and predictions.
The Ravens notched their third win in 4 games with a 34-17 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 16. They covered as 7.5-point home favorites as the Over 44 hit. Baltimore dominated the ground game, piling up 220 rushing yards, 162 from RB Derrick Henry. QB Lamar Jackson tossed 3 TD, boosting his season total to 37. The win moved the Ravens into a tie with the Steelers for the AFC North lead.
Houston’s 2-game win streak ended in Week 16 with a 27-19 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. The Texans failed to cover as 3.5-point road underdogs as the Over 42.5 hit. QB C.J. Stroud had an up-and-down performance with 2 TDs and 2 INTs. WR Tank Dell, who had 6 catches for 98 yards, suffered a devastating knee injury on a touchdown play.
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Ravens at Texans odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list of NFL odds. Lines last updated at 6:51 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Ravens -250 (bet $250 to win $100) | Texans +200 (bet $100 to win $200)
- Against the spread (ATS): Ravens -5.5 (-110) | Texans +5.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 47 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Ravens at Texans key injuries
Ravens
- WR Nelson Agholor (concussion) out
- DB Jalyn Armour-Davis (hamstring) out
- WR Zay Flowers (shoulder) questionable
- RB Justice Hill (concussion) out
- CB Tre’Davious White (shoulder) questionable
Texans
- DE Denico Autry (knee) questionable
- WR Tank Dell (knee) out/IR
- DL Foley Fatukasi (foot) out
- OL Shaq Mason (knee) out
- C Juice Scruggs (foot) out
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Ravens at Texans picks and predictions
Prediction
Ravens 27, Texans 20
Moneyline
PASS.
The Ravens (-250) will win their fourth straight game and will take it by a touchdown or more. They have won the last 5 meetings with the Texans, covering the spread in 4 of those games. I’ll take my wager to the spread.
Against the spread
BET RAVENS -5.5 (-110).
Baltimore has won and covered in 3 of their last 4 games, including their last 2 road outings. The Texans are just 1-2-1 ATS in their last 4. Jackson continues to play at an MVP level, and with the Ravens tied with the Steelers atop the AFC North, they can’t afford a misstep with only 2 games left.
For Houston, success hinges on RB Joe Mixon, as the ground game opens opportunities for Stroud’s deep passing. However, facing a Ravens defense that allows just 65.5 rushing yards per game to running backs—the second-best mark in the league—makes that an uphill battle. Last week, the Chiefs limited Mixon to 55 rushing yards, and the Texans couldn’t overcome it.
Baltimore’s defense is a nightmare matchup for a Texans team struggling to find consistency, especially in the run game. Expect the Ravens to keep rolling.
Over/Under
I don’t see a clear edge on the total. The Ravens have gone Over in 3 of their last 4, while the Texans are 2-2 against the total. The Under is 7-2-1 in their last 10 head-to-head matchups.
While both teams can score—Baltimore averages 30.1 PPG and Houston 23.1 PPG—the trends are inconsistent. My lean would be the Over, but with no strong indicators, I’ll officially PASS on this bet as my prediciton lands right on the number.
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