The penultimate game of the Week 2 of the NFL preseason will take place on Sunday, August 21, so you must not miss the best Ravens vs. Cardinals betting pick and odds as all eyes will be on this clash.

Both Baltimore and Arizona are looking to record their respective second wins of the preseason when they meet at State Farm Stadium, and the Ravens are -5.5 favorites on Bovada Sportsbook, while the total is set at 38.5 points. These inter-conference rivals haven’t met since 2019, and on average, they face each other every four or five years, including the preseason.

Lamar Jackson needs more receiving options

The Baltimore Ravens didn’t have trouble beating the Tennessee Titans 23-10 in the opening game of the preseason. Their defense kept the Titans to under 300 total yards and forced three turnovers, while both passing and running offense worked well.

Still, star quarterback Lamar Jackson will need more receiving options besides Mark Andrews when the regular season starts, and this is a chance for the likes of Rashod Bateman, James Proche II, and Devin Duvernay to show their worth. They didn’t feature last week but could get playing time against Arizona on Sunday.

Backup quarterback Tyler Huntley completed 16 of 18 passes for 109 yards and a touchdown against the Titans and will probably split time with Anthony Brown (10/15 for 117 yds) under the center.

Trace McSorley to meet his former team

The Arizona Cardinals didn’t have a tough job in a 36-23 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals on the road. They even had a 36-9 lead at one moment, but relaxed a bit in the final 15 minutes and allowed 14 points.

Former Baltimore Ravens quarterback Trace McSorley was impressive for the Cards as he completed 13 of 22 passes for 163 yards and a touchdown. He also added a team-high 32 rushing yards on four carries. Starter Kyler Murray is not expected to take more than a few snaps if any, so McSorley will have more time to connect with receivers, especially Andy Isabella. The two already displayed solid chemistry; Isabella caught four passes on seven targets for 57 yards. He and Greg Dortch (eight targets for 53 yards) will continue to be McSorley’s top options through the air.

Trends:

Baltimore:

N/A

Arizona:

  • 5-1 in the last six games against AFC opponents
  • Underdog is 4-0 ATS in the last four H2H meetings

Baltimore Ravens vs. Arizona Cardinals Pick  

Arizona scored five touchdowns against the Bengals, and although that won’t be easy against the Ravens, I am backing the hosts to outscore Baltimore. It will be hard for the Ravens to contain the cardinals to below 300 total yards and considering that Arizona didn’t turn the ball over once against Cincy, my pick is the home side to cover. Trace McSorley will be motivated to impress as he faces his old team, and I expect him to be dangerous on both the ground and in the air.

Pick: Take the Cardinals at +5.5 (-110)

The Total

Arizona’s defense played very well through the first three quarters of the win over Cincinnati and then relaxed in the fourth. I don’t think the Cardinals will have such a big lead to afford to relax late in the game. That said, I expect to see a tight encounter with not plenty of points. Don’t be surprised if both teams end the game below 20 points. Under is 11-4 in the Ravens’ last 15 road games, while Under is 4-1 in Baltimore’s previous five games on grass.

Pick: Go Under 38.5 points (-110)