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The NFL is on track to open its 2020 season on time, but some or all of their teams can expect to be playing home games without fans in the stadium. Each locale is implementing different rules, and on Monday, the Baltimore announced their plans to start the season.
The Ravens will have no fans in attendance for what they describe as “at least the initial part of the 2020 season.” It does not offer a specific timeline, but does suggest they will continually re-assess their plans.
The Ravens open the season at home when they face the Cleveland Browns in Week 1. They alternate home and away games through October into their Week 8 bye. DraftKings Sportsbook has provided lines for eight Ravens games this season, including four of their home games.
Week 1 vs. Browns: -7.5
Week 3 vs. Chiefs: -2.5
Week 7 vs. Steelers: -6
Week 16 vs. Giants: -10.5
In sports betting, home field advantage is viewed as being worth roughly 2.5 to 3 points. Some teams like the Seahawks, Saints, and Chiefs have a more significant advantage than other teams. The Ravens draw well and have a loud crowd so it’ll be around a field goal, maybe more depending on the weather and the oddsmaker.
DK Sportsbook oddsmaker Johnny Avello said he would cut a home field in half with no fans in the stands. There is still benefit of knowing your home stadium and locker room, and not having to travel, so you still get some benefit to playing at home. But, it will not be nearly what it would be if there were fans in the stands.
If the Ravens lose 1.5 points in home field advantage, they would remain favorites in all four games listed above, but that Chiefs line would drop down to near a point. The Steelers line could drop into a murky area at -4.5.
Not all lines are created equal and plenty will change between now and each game, so this some basic projection for the time being. However, sportsbooks have yet to make a move with the potential for no fans in the stand, so there could be some value to be found in early lines.
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