Pete, This is a little ridiculous, isn't it? Maybe the fact that the Ravens were already giant killers once this season, when they knocked off the previously unbeaten Broncos, 30-7, earlier this month is being factored into this.

Or maybe it's knowing that the Ravens are handing on to faint playoff hopes by their finger nails and are going to be really focused against a Colt team that may not be as sharp as they've already nearly locked up home field advantage for the playoffs.

I don't think Jim Caldwell is the kind of coach that would let his team get too complacent in a situation like this, nor do I think the Colts' veterans who have been through so much down through the years are going to let up one bit.

If the Ravens are to be victorious, it's going to have to be a genuine win and not one handed to them. They'll need to play one of their best games of the season to have a chance.

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Pete's reply: It sure seems ridiculous to me, but I guess we'll have to wait until Sunday to know for sure.

Question Pete,

When NFL schedules are made up, how is is determined who plays who. I know we play each team in our division twice, and all teams in the AFC North play the same opponents in an NFC Conf and another AFC conf. So there are 14 common games among the AFC North. But there are two additional games not common to the other teams in our div. The Ravens are the only team in the AFC North that must play the Colts and the Patriots. The Steelers on the other hand drew the Dolphins and Titans. In fact, of the five teams competing for the two wild card slots, the Ravens play, by far, the toughest schedule. I looked at the other contenders and who their two floating games were against.

Ravens (IND and NE combined record: 16-3)

San Diego (Tenn, Mia, 7-11)

Steelers (Tenn, Mia, 7-11)

Jax (Cle, KC, 3-15)

Hou (Oak, Cin, 9-9)

I say this because, I think, if the Ravens do fall 1 or 2 games short, SOS will have to be considered a major factor. Out of 16 games, the Ravens play 10 against teams with winning records, vice 8 or 9. That means, for the Ravens, they need to beat 5 winning teams to secure a playoff spot.

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Pete's reply: Theoretically, the best teams from last year play the toughest schedules this year, so the Ravens (by virtue of their second-place finish in the AFC North last year) are matched up against the other second-place teams in the conference. It's supposed to promote parity, though it doesn't always work out that way because teams vary in quality from year to year.

Josh, aside from the matchups you mentioned, each team plays the other two teams from their conference based on where they finished in their division. So, the Ravens have to play the other two AFC division 2nd place teams because they finished 2nd in the AFC North. It's just bad luck that both the Patriots and Colts finished 2nd in their divisions last year, while the Steelers get to play the two 1st place teams from last year (Titans and Dolphins) who are clearly inferior this year.

In response to Josh: those two other games are determined by the previous seasons standings. Since the Ravens were 2nd in the AFC North last year, they're playing the teams that finished 2nd last year in the AFC East (New England) and AFC South (Indy). Remember, Miami and Tennessee won those divisions last year, so the Steelers play them. (This is why sometimes the Ravens play the same non-division team in consecutive years even though they aren't in the division the AFC North is playing in its entirety.) Next year, the Ravens will play the entire AFC East, NFC South, and whoever finishes in the same position in the AFC South and AFC West that the Ravens finish.

I love the Ravens, but I have eyes that work..after the MNF display I'm taking my 401 K and flying to Vegas baby! The easiest money you will ever get!!!! No way the Colts don't turn Peyton loose on Foxworth , Carr etc.....and win by 20!!!

Perhaps this has already been discussed and I missed it, but I haven't heard anyone talk about the blessings of this past weekend for the Ravens.

Because the Bengals beat the Steelers, the Ravens now again have their future in their own hands.

Since the Bengals already own the tie breaker against the Ravens, it was not likely that the Ravens could beat them out for either a division championship or a wildcard spot. So it is in the Ravens best interest for the Bengals to secure the division, and to let the Ravens battle the Steelers for the wildcard, since they can still control who gets the tie breaker with them (if the Ravens sweep). Of course a sweep is unlikely, but unlikely is not impossible. Getting the tie breaker from the Bengals is impossible.

Also worthy to note that the Ravens have the tie-breaker advantage over both teams in the AFC west. I don't know about how they compare the Jaguars or Titans.

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Peter's reply: Prof, I did mention that over the weekend and I have pointed out that the other wild card candidates have been floundering, too.

I have to wonder if the current Las Vegas line is considering the fact that the Colts are severly depleted on the defense. Couple the injuries with a possible letdown after last week's victory could spell into a Raven's victory.

Maybe the oddsmakers are assuming that Colts' wins from this point forward will become progressively more difficult due to the pressure of remaining unbeaten.

Pete, This line might be a bit strange, but the Colts are a dome team. They will be playing outside. How have the Colts done outside the last 2-3 years? I bet that is a big piece of the puzzle.

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Pete's reply: They've won 18 straight regular season games, so I'm guessing they play okay outdoors.

Pete if the Ravens had won 30-0 on monday would you have them beating the Colts most likely not. Look how they beat Denver and then laid an egg in Cincy the Browns game means nothing verses the Colts. The NFL is a week to week league Colts win this game but the Ravens should play better.

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Pete's reply: Hope you're right. If the Ravens had won 30-0 and scored three touchdowns on offense, I might have been tempted to pick them this week, but probably still would have gone with the Colts.

I just don't think this Ravens team is going to get up for the game again. Harbuagh can't seem to inspire them. I fear they're going to come out sleep walking like McNair and crew did against the Colts in the playoffs a few years ago. There just seems to be an aura of perceived "badness" about the Ravens from their past history of defensive dominance, and ain't nobody going to make them act with a sense of urgency or concern. But those days are long over. If it's "just another game" to them, Manning will have them in the hole 21 points before half time.

Ravens will beat the Colts on Sunday in a shocker. Every one of you that is jumping on the Colts' bandwagon are suckers and would lose your money, because you would be following the herd! The Browns game tells you nothing about what the Ravens will unleash against the Colts. THe game plan against Cleveland was designed to be vanilla. Why would they show their hand just prior to the 2 biggest/toughest games on their upcoming schedule? Think about it. A loser is the one that always whines about how unfair the schedule is and who is on it. Keep in mind that the Ravens are on the Colts and Steelers schedule too. The Ravens lost a handful of games by a total of 11 points: Bengals game 1, Patriots and Vikings. Had we won 1 or 2 of those, I wonder how many of those that have abondoned the bandwagon would still be onboard for the ride? So Flagtown, go take that measely 401(k) of yours and head to vegas to lose it. If you save the same way you bet (chasing what's hot, my bet is that you don't have much in that 401(k) to start with. Suckers! See you back on the bandwagon in a few weeks!

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Pete's reply: So, you're saying that the Ravens were content to score one offensive touchdown on Monday night? If that's true, they put themselves in a position to blow their playoff chances in Cleveland if not for a couple of tipped Brady Quinn passes that turned into 10 points.

I suspect the spread partly stems from which team is perceived as having the most incentive to win. With news that Suggs is out, expect that line to change.

And since the line is set merely to make sure the betting is evenly divided, you would think a lot of money will flow to the Colts at current line.

Folks, the "spread" is set to generate the most betting revenue. These guys who set the lines are not losing money, and know what they are doing. Even if the Colts whip the Ravens by 21+ points, they will make a profit. A controversial betting line will ensure more bets, that's all. It's not like anyone actually thinks the Ravens are a point better than the Colts. Can the Ravens win? Sure. But I will not be putting my 401k on it -- and yes Tom, there is a good amount of money in there.

Even if the Ravens offense bring their A-game, Manning and the Colts are going to eat the Ravens secondary alive. So if Vegas is predicting the Ravens, it's gonna be a high scoring game.

But if the Ravens look like they have the past two weeks, I'm predicting 34-13 Colts.

The line for the game is from Moody's, the same guys who rated subprime mortgages.
Like the subprimes, the Ravens have no chance.

The Ravens have as much of a shot to win as Sarah Palin does of becoming the next President of the U.S. Does anyone remember what happened the last time Indy came to town. It was the worst home game in Ravens history. It was raining and we were getting kicked all over the field before the first half was over. Half of the stadium left before half time. As much as I hate Indy and would love the Ravens to win I don't see it happening unless the Ravens can come up with a miracle.

Ken ...i appreciate your question but please start following football. The schedule is pre-determined years in advance except for two games. You can see who the ravens play in 2018 if you want unless realignment or expansion. There are only two games per year that are based on your previous year schedule. We will always play 6 agianst our division, 8 against set AFC division and nfc divison leaving only 2 to previous year record. Simple got it. But dont plan your away game trip yet because home and away are not determined

well, i liked the colts before i heard everyone on this board chime in. Because most of the bettors on here are probably in forclosure or living in shacks and betting those prestine palaces on the colts, then i will assume the palaces in vegas are the results of such prognostications and go with the ravens 20-17. peace out

Look, it's not just Vegas who thinks the Ravens have a chance to win, there were a couple of people on ESPN thinking it's going to be alot closer than people think. In fact, outside of Doom and Gloom Baltimore, and Indy, few people think it's going to be some blowout win by the Colts. This is my problem with Baltimore fans. You guys have no faith, you act like little crybabies half of the time, and I think you always set the expectations low because you're so afraid of being emotionally hurt. Word to Ravens fans - man up, have a little faith in your team. Your losses were all very close games against very good teams. You'll do fine against Indy.

Taking the weighted average of the last eight games by both BAL and IND and factoring in the 2.3 point home field advantage, the predicted score should be IND 21, BAL 20.

Personally with both secondaries vulnerable at the moment, I see BAL 31, IND 26.

By the way, oddsmakers DO NOT make the line in how they think the game will come out. They make the line in how they think will split the bettors most evenly.

It is not unusual for a larger fanbase like those of PIT and NE to get an extra point or two not because "it's unfair" but because they want to goose the line to entice betting the other way. IND is generally not a marquee team for bettors despite how good they have been in the Manning Era unless they are playing another marquee name.

I suspect the line will move before kickoff.

As I posted on the other item about Pete going Rogue, the Colts are not unbeatable people. They nearly lost at home to the 49ers. They are coming off an emotional win Sunday in which they were dominated and only won because of two turnovers in the endzone against a team the Ravens played very well against on the road. I am not expecting a W (in part because I don't kbnow what to expect from the Ravens), but stranger things have happened.

the ravens are alot beter at
home, averaging 1-2 losses
per year... they have
already loss one vs the bengals
and this looks like a down
year.....

colts 28- ravens 17

just don't see an injured
defense missing suggs and ngata
hanging with peyton....

the angle says take the colts
giving the points, but receiving
points??? this is a gift....