Point spread: Baltimore -7.5 Over/Under: 45 The Houston Texans head east this week for a Sunday afternoon showdown with the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium in an AFC tilt between two division-leading teams. Game time is set for a 4:05 (p.m.) start and it will be broadcast regionally on CBS.
Houston will be looking to bounce back from a25-20 loss to Oakland as a 4.5-point home favorite in a game it let slip away down the stretch. The Texans are now 3-2 both straight-up and against the spread and tied with Tennessee atop the AFC South. The total stayed ?under? the 48.5-point line against the Raiders and has now stayed ?under? in four of five their games this season.
The main concern for this team is a rash of injuries to some of its best players on both sides of the ball. Linebacker Mario Williams has been lost for the season with a torn muscle in his chest and wide receiver Andre Johnson remains doubtful with a strained hamstring. Quarterback Matt Schaub is also a bit nicked-up but should be ready to go by Sunday.
Baltimore should be well-rested and raring to go after coming off a bye. It went into its bye week with a huge 34-17 win over the New York Jets as a five-point home favorite to run its record to 3-1 SU and ATS. The total has gone ?over? in all four of its games.
The Ravens have vaulted to the top of the AFC North behind an offense that is ranked sixth in the NFL in scoring with an average of 29.8 points a game to go along with a defense that is ranked first in points allowed; giving up an average of just 14.2 points a game. Cornerback Jimmy Smith is still out with an ankle injury, but the Ravens should get wide receiver Lee Evans back after missing two games with an ankle injury of his own.
The Texans are 1-5 ATS in their last six games as road underdogs and the total has gone ?over? in five of their last seven road games. The Ravens are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games following a bye week and 4-1 ATS in their last five games as favorites. The total has gone ?over? in three of their last four home games.
This game is shaping-up as a seven-point Baltimore victory, so grab the Texans and the half-point to squeeze out a win ATS.
The Pick: Baltimore 24 Houston 17 
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