NFL Preseason Betting Odds Baltimore Ravens at Miami Dolphins

If you are a Chicago Bears fan, you probably despise Jay Cutler because he was largely a bust in Chicago. But if you are a Miami Dolphins fan, you are counting on Cutler to be your team’s savior this preseason and he will make his Miami debut on Thursday night. Here’s a Closer Look at the 2017 NFL Preseason Betting Odds for the Ravens vs. Dolphins game.

2017 NFL Preseason Week 2 Dolphins at Ravens

When: Thursday, Aug. 17, 7 PM ET Where: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami TV: Local only (NFL Network replay) Radio: Sirius XM Radio Stream Option: NFL Game Pass Opening NFL Lines: Dolphins -2.5 (38.5) GAMETIME WEATHER Partly Cloudy 31°C/88°F Humidity 65% Precipitation % 2% Cloud Cover 38% Wind 8 mph ESE Stadium Type Open

Cutler Makes Debut

Of course the Dolphins signed Cutler when starting QB Ryan Tannehill went down with a season-ending knee injury. The club didn’t want to rush Cutler into the first NFL preseason game, but he’ll go here. Cutler, who was semi-retired and had accepted a television job with FOX, played five games with the Bears last season and threw for 1,059 yards, four touchdowns and five interceptions before suffering a shoulder injury. Coach Adam Gase didn’t say how long Cutler would play in this one. Cutler’s familiarity with Gase’s offense when Gase was Cutler’s offensive coordinator in Chicago should help him make a quick adjustment, which will be key for a Dolphins team with postseason expectations this year.

Week 1 NFL Sleeper Picks

Another Major Fins Injury

No team has had a worse NFL preseason than Miami. In addition to Tannehill going down, middle linebacker Raekwon McMillan (knee) and guard Ted Larsen (biceps) are on injured reserve. Both were likely to start. Now cornerback Tony Lippett is done with a torn Achilles tendon. Lippett started 13 games for the Dolphins last season and recorded 67 tackles and a team-high four interceptions. Before the injury, Lippett was projected to be a backup this year behind starters Byron Maxwell and Xavien Howard. Gase said the team plans to play Mike Pouncey (hip) in the NFL preseason. Gase is “not sure if it’s this week or next,” but the center will get in some action. The decision is not a huge surprise considering Pouncey has been working in team drills the last couple practices. Running backs Jay Ajayi and Kenyan Drake are dealing concussions and you won’t see them Thursday, although Ajayi is out of the concussion protocol. Drake is competing with Damien Williams for the No. 2 job.

Ravens Also Banged Up

Baltimore has yet to have QB Joe Flacco in camp due to a weightlifting incident and he won’t play Thursday but is expected to be ready for the regular season. Ravens offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg on Flacco: “I sure would love to have him here. There is no substitute for experience, especially in this situation. It looks like we’ll have just enough time there to get him ready as long as he keeps progressing. By all accounts, he’s progressing pretty well.” The Ravens added an experienced arm for training camp, signing journeyman Thad Lewis on Monday. Lewis is the latest quarterback to be signed by the Ravens since the team said it was considering signing controversial free agent Colin Kaepernick. Lewis hasn’t thrown a pass in a regular-season game since 2013, but he’s had more extensive work than Dustin Vaughan, who was released by Baltimore on Monday.

Ravens coach John Harbaugh wouldn't rule out WR Breshad Perriman for the NFL preseason.

Ravens coach John Harbaugh wouldn’t rule out WR Breshad Perriman for the preseason, but he didn’t seem optimistic about the wide receiver suiting up before the regular season. “He’s a long-term hamstring guy in terms of when he did it,” Harbaugh said. “It’s a pretty good hamstring that he had. He’s making progress. Everything is on schedule. They’re happy with the way he’s progressing. That’s what I know.”

Preseason Results

The Ravens won their NFL preseason opener 23-3 at home over Washington. QB Ryan Mallett starting in place of Flacco completed half of his passes (9 of 18) and averaged a woeful 3.2 yards per attempt. His supporting cast didn’t include all three starting wide receivers (Jeremy Maclin, Mike Wallace and Perriman), his most experienced tight end (Ben Watson) and his best pass-catcher out of the backfield (Danny Woodhead). Mallett will start here. Miami won its preseason opener 23-20 at home over Atlanta. McMillan, the team’s second-round pick this year, was hurt in that one. Undrafted rookie Damore’ea Stringfellow caught a 99-yard touchdown pass from David Fales to cap Miami’s comeback from a 20-10 fourth-quarter deficit vs. the Falcons, but neither is likely to make the roster. Backup QB Matt Moore played one series, which went three-and-out after confusion forced the Dolphins to call timeout before their first snap.

BALTIMORE RAVENS TEAM STATISTICS

Offensive total yards 347.69 Current Offensive rush yards 91.12 Offensive passing yards 256.56 Average Score For 21.44 Defensive total yards 322.12 Current Defensive rush yards 89.38 Defensive passing yards 232.75 Average Score Against 20.06

MIAMI DOLPHINS TEAM STATISTICS

Offensive total yards 331.71 Current Offensive rush yards 110.35 Offensive passing yards 221.35 Average Score For 22.06 Defensive total yards 381.88 Current Defensive rush yards 142.71 Defensive passing yards 239.18 Average Score Against 24.12

Game Trends

Ravens are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 road games. Dolphins are 6-13 ATS in their last 19 home games. Dolphins are 9-20 ATS in their last 29 vs. AFC.

Expert Prediction

It’s Miami’s final home NFL preseason game so you might see the starters go a bit longer. The Ravens also have been gutted by injuries and their QB situation is worse than the Fins’. Thus give the points.