Baltimore Ravens Small Favorite (-1 to -3) Betting Trend

The Ravens' mediocre performance as small favorites stems from their identity crisis in close games where they're expected to control but not dominate. Baltimore has historically been built around defensive dominance and running game control, but when installed as modest favorites, they often face opponents with enough talent to exploit their offensive limitations while staying competitive against their defense. Small favorite situations typically arise when the Ravens face divisional rivals or teams with comparable records, creating games where their traditional strengths become neutralized. Their defense, while typically elite, can't generate the same game-changing plays against prepared opponents who've studied their tendencies extensively. Meanwhile, their offense has frequently struggled with consistency in these spots, particularly when Lamar Jackson faces defensive coordinators who've had time to prepare specific containment schemes. The psychological element plays a significant role as well. Baltimore often enters these games expecting their talent advantage to manifest naturally, leading to conservative game planning that fails to account for motivated underdogs. Their coaching staff has shown a tendency to play not to lose rather than playing to win when facing supposedly inferior competition. This trend matters most in divisional games and primetime spots where opponents have extra motivation and preparation time to neutralize Baltimore's core strengths.