Line Movement Favors Ravens Ahead Of Broncos Game

• The Denver Broncos opened Week 4 as 1.5-point favorites over the Baltimore Ravens.
• Line movement now has the Baltimore Ravens favored by 1-point in Week 4.

DENVER – The Denver Broncos are just one of five remaining undefeated teams in the NFL and their matchup against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 4 will be a true test for them this season.

When the betting lines first opened, regulated sports betting sites had the Denver Broncos favored by 1.5 points over the Ravens. As the week progressed though, the line shifted in favor of the Baltimore Ravens who are now favored by 1-point.

Injuries & Returns

One main factor that could have fueled the NFL odds to shift is the fact that the Ravens have some returning pieces to their depth chart while the Broncos have suffered some key injuries.

On the Ravens side, rookie wide receiver, Rashod Bateman, will make his season debut after suffering a groin injury in training camp. This gives the Ravens much-needed depth in a receiving core that has struggled since the beginning of the season.

The Ravens will also see three defensive starters return from IR as well in linebacker Justin Houston, and defensive tackles Brandon Williams and Justin Madubuike.

On the flip side, the Broncos have caught the injury bug and will be without receiver KJ Hamler, and linebackers Bradley Chubb and Andre Mintze. Also, their starting running back, Melvin Gordon, and offensive linemen, Dalton Risner and Graham Glasgow were all late adds to the injury report.

Broncos Weak Competition

Yes, the Broncos have gotten off to a 3-0 start this season, however, the three teams that they have played are all still winless. This weakens any credibility that the Broncos are a tough team to beat as they have gone up against minimal competition.

The Ravens will be the ultimate test of the actual greatness that is the undefeated Denver Broncos team as they are the first team they will face that has a win under their belts. The Ravens are also one of the most explosive offenses in the league behind QB Lamar Jackson.

One example of just how strong Baltimore is comes by comparison of all of the Broncos opponents in the first three weeks. The New York Jets, the Jacksonville Jaguars, and the New York Giants have not surpassed the 1,000 total yard mark yet. On the other hand, the Ravens fourth-highest team in yards per game with 427 yards per game at 1,274 yards on the year.

The game begins at 4:25 p.m. EST on Sunday and will be broadcast on the CBS Network.

News tags: Baltimore Ravens | Bradley Chubb | Denver Broncos | KJ Hamler | Lamar Jackson | Melvin Gordon | NFL | NFL Week 4 | Rashod Bateman