NFL 2025 Season - Week 8
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Skip It
by Dennis Ranahan

I think the Boston Latin Academy class of 2005 is celebrating their 15 year reunion this weekend. How else can one explain a bunch of money coming in on the New England Patriots for their game tonight against the Baltimore Ravens?

They are not speaking my language, moving the point spread from the Ravens by seven to the Ravens by 6½.

If it is not a class reunion, I have no idea what is moving this line. Aren’t people paying attention? This New England team is but a shadow of the squad that for the past two decades won the AFC East Division as consistently as Santa Claus showing up on Christmas. Yet this season, in their last game, they almost were the first victim of the New York Jets, who had a late lead slip away while the Patriots escaped with a three point win.

New England was favored by ten points in that game.

That was nuts too.

So, what do we have here for this Sunday night game when John Harbaugh’s squad invades Gillette Stadium?

Well, we have a much superior Ravens squad needing a win to stay in shouting distance of the only undefeated team in the league, the Pittsburgh Steelers, who earlier today picked up their ninth straight win over the Cincinnati Bengals.

Okay, better team needs game, then take ‘em right?

Well, when I don’t know why a line is moving I most often choose to sit out. It’s like the old saying if you can’t spot the sucker at the poker table, it’s you.

Somebody, who knows more than even the Boston Latin Academy class of 2005, is moving this line despite the public bets making the Ravens the second most bet team of the week. Usually, when a line moves in the opposite direction of public opinion, it is best to know why and either take it or skip it.

Tonight, I don’t know why, which is the best reason of all to skip it.