NFL betting tips: Free betting tips and odds for Sunday's NFL, including Baltimore v Jacksonville at Wembley
David John looks ahead to Sunday's action in the NFL and has a bet for the Wembley game between Baltimore and Jacksonville.
Baltimore at Jacksonville (Wembley, 1430 BST, Sky Sports Action)
The debate simmers away about whether Britain should have its own NFL franchise as designated 'London' team Jacksonville prepare to play at Wembley Stadium for the fifth straight season.
The Jaguars boast a 2-2 record overseas and have come out on top in the last two but whether they can win the hearts and minds of NFL fans on this side of the Pond as the most likely organisation to relocate remains to be seen.
Another victory would do no harm on that front at 1-1 for the season as they get under way in their usual default position - inconsistent.
An impressive 29-7 success in week one at Houston when the defense produced a franchise-best 10 sacks was followed by a 37-16 capitulation at home to Tennessee with the distinct feeling it is going to be another up-and-down campaign in north Florida.
Erratic play from quarterback Blake Bortles continues to hinder any significant forward progress on offense, a situation not helped after wide receiver and main playmaker Allen Robinson went down with a long-term knee injury.
Brighter spots include a good start from rookie running back Leonard Fournette, while the front office has managed to assemble some serious talent on defense which gave the Texans such a torrid time.
It now comes down to putting it all together on a regular basis and Baltimore will provide a very good gauge in terms of which direction Jacksonville may be heading.
This will be Baltimore’s first overseas venture so Jax clearly have a big advantage in that department with just 15 (including eight rookies) of the 53-man roster not having visited London previously.
Ravens head coach John Harbaugh hardly oozed optimism when he said "we think we will be ready to go" as they adapt to the travel, time change and different routine for game week in a very short period.
Their defense has also put up some eye-catching early numbers as they lead the league in takeaways (10) and interceptions (eight) while future Hall of Fame linebacker Terrell Suggs has posted three of their eight sacks and has recorded six in six games against this rival.
They have only allowed a measly 10 points so far but it can be argued they have been flattered a little against an awful Cincinnati offense and then a Cleveland outfit with a rookie quarterback who had to leave the game with a migraine.
They create pressure though and swarm to the ball, exactly the recipe to make this a potentially uncomfortable afternoon for Bortles, who saw two passes tipped last week and end up in the hands of the opposition.
Opposite number Joe Flacco looked sharp in contrast as he continues his return from a back injury but Baltimore will try to lean on their running game once more that has seen them have 74 rushing attempts in the first two weeks – second most in the NFL.
Their relentless march on the ground might be a bit tougher to implement here with running back Terrance West dinged up and right guard Marshal Yanda sidelined after breaking his ankle against the Browns.
The knock-on effect could see Flacco lured into a deep shot or two downfield instead as the speedy Mike Wallace and Breshad Perriman have not been involved to any great effect so far.
A trip to the end zone for one of both of those is a possible betting angle but I will suggest an investment on a defensive touchdown at some stage instead as both respective units are well capable of putting six on the board due to their aggressive tendencies.
Prediction: Baltimore 18-20 Jacksonville
Best of the rest
Sky’s second live game sees Detroit host Atlanta at Ford Field (1800 BST) as the duo put their unbeaten records on the line.
The Falcons have picked up where they left off last season and an extremely fluid display on offense was too much for Green Bay last week as quarterback Matt Ryan orchestrated a 34-23 success with the hosts well out of sight until a couple of late, fourth-quarter Packers touchdowns.
This is a first serious test for the Lions following victories over Arizona and the New York Giants so we will get a far clearer idea how good this team actually is with the traditionally-cynical Detroit faithful already waiting for the bubble to burst.
They have looked a team so far with no glaring weakness on either side of the ball but that statement will be put to the test by Ryan and his multi-faceted attack which has so many options when it comes to finding the end zone.
Starting right tackle Ryan Schraeder has been ruled out with a concussion but back-up Ty Sambrailo looked good both against Green Bay when called on and in subsequent practices since so I would expect them to cope with a dangerous pass rush led by in-form Ziggy Ansah.
Influential Atlanta linebacker Vic Beasley is sidelined so that gives an opportunity to exciting rookie Takkarist McKinley to step up and make things uncomfortable for Matt Stafford - the Falcons covering a start of a field goal is achievable.
An undefeated Kansas City travel to AFC West rivals the LA Chargers (2125 BST) and Travis Kelce is the player to focus on here.
The Pro Bowl tight end has always been a bit of a naughty boy but his antics have reached boiling point this week following three unsportsmanlike conduct penalties in his last three games stretching back to the play-offs in January.
It has been a prickly subject for head coach Andy Reid to confront in the build-up with a couple of terse responses when questioned by the press, but a heart-to-heart between the pair has hopefully begun to smooth things over.
Kelce is no idiot and would not want to harm the chances of a team that has championship potential with these unnecessary distractions and should be fully focused once more on contributing in a positive fashion at the StubHub Center.
The Chargers will want to poke the hornet's nest to try and get him annoyed but one of the elite players in the NFL at his position can rise above it all by picking up some serious yardarge for the Chiefs.
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Recommended bets
2pts a defensive or special teams touchdown in Baltimore at Jacksonville at 7/5
Posted at 1840 BST on 23/09/17.
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