The 6-2 Ravens welcome the 3-5 Raiders to M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore today as they attempt to maintain their AFC North lead over the Steelers (1:00pm ET start time, CBS). NFL Sunday Oakland Raiders at Baltimore Ravens Odds are favoring the host squad at -7.5 against the spread; the game total is set at 46.5 points. The Raiders are drawing +280 odds ($100 wins $280) to win the game outright.

The Baltimore Ravens went into a week seven meeting with the Texans in great position; it had won four straight games and had a leg up on the dreaded Steelers in the AFC North standings. It came away from that contest with a host of questions, though.

Houston wrecked Baltimore 43-13, which, along with nature of its previous victories, called into question just how good a team John Harbaugh was overseeing. Well, a week off and a trip to Cleveland has silenced some of the club’s critics, and today’s meeting with Oakland should stuff another sock in their mouths.

The Raiders have played better of late, though, winning two of their last four games to improve to 3-5 overall. Of course, those two wins came against the Jaguars and Chiefs, but Oakland nearly upset the Falcons in the Georgia Dome and it traded punches with a red hot Buccaneers team before hitting the canvas last Sunday.

There is nothing particularly special about the Raiders, but they are the kind of team that has enough talent to occasionally put a scare in their opposition or even pull off an unexpected win. It is doubtful they do that today as the Ravens are always a tough out in Baltimore, but it is not a preposterous thought either.

Free Pick: Take Oakland +7.5. The Raiders are 3-2 straight up and 4-1 against the spread in their last five games as a road dog with a spread between 4 and 7.5 points.

Oakland Raiders at Baltimore Ravens NFL Odds:

Oakland Raiders +7.5 (-110), Over 46.5 (-110), +280 (Moneyline)

Baltimore Ravens -7.5 (-110), Under 46.5 (-110), -340 (Moneyline)

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