NFL Week 1 odds, prop bets pick for Ravens vs. Chiefs Thursday Night Football

The NFL is finally back.

Football fans have quite a matchup to watch as they celebrate the beginning of the 2024-25 season with the Baltimore Ravens visiting the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs.

The NFL odds for Week 1 for Chiefs vs. Ravens suggest the opener will be tight, with a decent number of points scored as these teams try to start the season on the right foot.

NFL Week 1 Chiefs vs. Ravens odds

*as of 9/5

The Chiefs vs. Ravens odds for NFL Week 1 have been listed for quite a while.

So, there has been plenty of time for the point spread, moneyline and total to stabilize.

More money will be wagered before Thursday night, so the odds could keep moving.

Barring a significant injury in practice, however, don’t expect a gigantic move in the odds.

The Chiefs are favored by 3 points at all of the best online sportsbooks.

It is interesting, however, that the juice favors the Ravens. You have to pay -115 odds ($115 bet returns $100) at both BetMGM and Fanatics if you want to back Baltimore.

If you want to wager on the Chiefs -3, you can grab -105 odds at Fanatics and BetMGM.

The point spread went back and forth between Chiefs -3 and Chiefs -2.5 throughout the offseason.

The juice currently favors Baltimore, so now is the time to wager on that side (if that’s what you prefer) because the next move is likely to Ravens +2.5.

On the other hand, Chiefs bettors would be wise to wait in hopes that the line moves under the key number of 3.

The total has flipped back and forth between 46.5 and 47 on all of the top sports betting apps.

The moneylines are also similar. You can bet the Chiefs moneyline at odds between -148 and -155. The Ravens’ moneyline odds are between +124 (DraftKings) and +130 (Caesars).

Why Kansas City could win as the favorite

What’s not to like about the defending champion with the game’s best quarterback opening the season in front of its home crowd?

The Chiefs bring back plenty of key contributors from last season’s Super Bowl winner, including QB Patrick Mahomes and TE Travis Kelce.

What’s different this year is that Mahomes now has some downfield threats to throw to, which wasn’t necessarily the case for the bulk of the 2023 regular season.

Second-year WR Rashee Rice has big-time experience, and first-round rookie WR Xavier Worthy flashed game-breaking ability during the preseason.

Kelce, of course, is the straw that stirs the drink. He should find his usual helping of high-frequency targets now that there are better players around him to help open the field.

The defense was the highlight last season. Kansas City ranked second in scoring defense (17.3 ppg), sacks (57.0), yards per game (289.9) and fourth in passing yards allowed (176.5).

There is one big change on that side: Kansas City traded star CB L’Jarius Snead to Tennessee in the offseason, but Chris Jones, Trent McDuffie and Drue Tranquill are back to give the Chiefs another strong unit opposite Mahomes.

Why Baltimore could win as the underdog

You may want to look at the Ravens in this one if you believe revenge can be a big motivator.

With the Chiefs’ offense falling a half-step behind its usual pace last season, Baltimore surged to the top of the AFC and took the No. 1 seed into the playoffs.

Given a chance to punch their ticket to the Super Bowl with a win over the Chiefs on their home field, however, the Ravens faltered in the second half and were left pondering what could have been.

Baltimore made a major splash in free agency by signing Derrick Henry — one of the league’s best running backs.

Combining Henry with reigning NFL MVP Lamar Jackson should keep the Ravens’ offense near the top of the league.

And remember last year’s NFL Kickoff Game when the Chiefs played host to the Detroit Lions?

Almost everyone expected the Chiefs to run away with that one, but the Lions scored a stunning 21-20 victory. So, Kansas City has lost in this position before.

Best Chiefs vs. Ravens player prop bet

Derrick Henry under 65.5 rushing yards

Odds: -110 at FanDuel Sportsbook

The Ravens were great last season, and the combination of an above-average offensive line and QB Lamar Jackson were big reasons why.

Well, three starters from the offensive line are gone from last year’s AFC No. 1 seed, and the team has been mixing and matching throughout the preseason.

There is a chance this offensive line is bad early in the season.

New RB Derrick Henry was a good addition for Baltimore, but he needs solid blocking to make a big impact. He may not get it on Thursday night.

It’s well known that Henry needs a positive game script to be at his best, and the Ravens are not as likely to get that against Kansas City in Arrowhead Stadium.

There will be fewer opportunities for Henry if the Ravens are chasing the game.

The Ravens will probably get Henry going at some point this season, but Thursday night’s opener is a great spot to fade that idea.