It isn't often that you see totals in NFL games come screaming down from their opening numbers unless there are a lot of odd circumstances. In the case of the Denver Broncos and the Baltimore Ravens though, the total has dropped from 52 to 49 in a matter of just a few days before the start of the season, something which live bettors really need to take note of.
WHEN THE DENVER BRONCOS HAVE THE BALL
There aren't many great teams in the AFC this year, and bettors and fans alike are wondering aloud whether Denver is amongst them or not. New head coach Gary Kubiak has just two playoff wins in his career, and it's a real question whether he and Peyton Manning can coexist together or not since both want command of the offense.
Though Manning is still calling the plays and is going to be barking out all sorts of stuff at the line of scrimmage, Kubiak's scheme is clearly involved, and that is going to have Manning performing rollouts largely for the first time in his career.
The Kubiak offense has had a history of getting blown up by John Harbaugh and his Baltimore defense, though Manning has had a good history against this unit on his own. It'll be interesting to see which way this one goes.
If the offseason has rejuvenated Manning, we could see a repeat performance of the last time these two teams met in 2013 when the future Hall of Famer threw for 462 yards and seven touchdowns. If Manning looks as bad as he did at the end of last year when Denver effectively became a run-first team though, this could end up being a long day at the office for this offense.
Remember that Kubiak has always been a run-first type of offensive mind even though he was a former quarterback in his own right. Denver's offense could be chewing up a lot of clock, aiding the hopes of under backers in this one.
Also keep in mind that BookMaker offers up the prop of what will happen on the next first play of the next drive. If the run is an underdog when Denver is about to get it, be sure to take advantage.
WHEN THE BALTIMORE RAVENS HAVE THE BALL
Marc Trestman is a CFL guy, and he runs his offense in the NFL a little bit like he did in Canada with the Montreal Alouettes. He's going to be calling a lot of check down passes, which means that Justin Forsett could be a busy guy.
Deep throws? Don't expect a lot of them. Torrey Smith has moved on in free agency, and rookie Breshad Perriman hasn't shown us anything in the preseason which suggests that he is ready to step in and be a No. 1 receiver immediately.
Denver's secondary was pretty strong at stopping the deep ball last season, and though one of the most famous Hail Maries of all-time came on this field between these two teams when Joe Flacco found Jacoby Jones in the AFC playoffs in 2013, this is going to be a different case for sure.
Again, the common thread here is a slower style of offense, one which probably won't put up more than 24 or so points against most foes.
TREND TO TRACK
Considering the fact that both of these teams have taken on far different mentalities now than they have had in recent history, looking at trends to track won't necessarily do much good for live bettors. However, it should be noted that the Ravens are 8-3 ATS the last 11 times these two have met, while the over has easily cashed in four straight games.
Just keep in mind that bettors have loved the under all week long in this one for a reason. If this game starts off slow, that total is going to come flying down in live betting in a hurry, and there might not be such a thing as a bad time to back the under as the game progresses.
The NFL betting lines and props for this Sunday game were first available at BookMaker Sportsbook. The Denver Broncos were lined at -4 alongside a total of 52. Live wagering during commercials offers adjusted moneylines, totals and spreads. Log in and start gambling during the game now!
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