Ravens vs. Bills odds and promos: Best betting apps for Sunday Night Football
Ethan Calloway 8 Sep 0

Two MVP-level quarterbacks. An opening-week spotlight. A betting market that can’t quite pick a side. Baltimore hosts Buffalo at M&T Bank Stadium on Sunday, September 7, 2025 (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC), and bookmakers have Baltimore as a razor-thin favorite: moneyline around -120, spread -1 (-110), total 50.5. If you’re sizing up the Ravens vs. Bills odds, this is as close to a coin flip as you’ll see in a Week 1 prime-time game.

Here’s what those numbers actually say. A -120 moneyline implies roughly a 54.5% chance Baltimore wins in regulation. Buffalo at +100 implies an even 50%. The -1 point spread is basically a nudge toward the home team; at that number, you’re choosing between Baltimore by the slimmest margin or a pick’em-style stance on the Bills. The total at 50.5 hints at a fast, efficient game with both offenses expected to find the end zone.

Early-season lines can be twitchy. One key injury report note or a weather update can swing a one-point favorite to an underdog by kickoff. Week 1 also brings fresh playbooks and personnel wrinkles that weren’t visible in August. Bettors often wait for Friday practice reports before committing, especially when the spread is this tight and every half-point matters.

Maryland bettors get an extra storyline: bet365’s official launch in the state. That adds a heavyweight book to a competitive local market just as Baltimore opens its season at home. For anyone new to legal wagering, expect geolocation checks, quick ID verification, and minimum deposits in the $5–$10 range. Once you’re set up, you’ll have moneyline, spread, total, player props, same-game parlays, and live markets at your fingertips.

Odds, angles, and how to bet Sunday Night Football

When the spread sits at -1, your first decision is simple: lay -1 or take the moneyline? The difference is price versus push risk. With -1 at -110, you’ll cash if Baltimore wins by any margin except exactly one (that’s a push). The moneyline at -120 costs a bit more but protects you against a one-point win. If you expect a late two-point try or a weird Week 1 special teams sequence to tilt the outcome by a single point, the moneyline can be the safer path.

The total at 50.5 sits near a key scoring cluster (50–51). Books know both teams can score in bunches, and early September weather in Baltimore usually isn’t a major problem. Still, humidity and wind on the Inner Harbor can appear out of nowhere. If you like the over, you might prefer 50 or 50.5 early in the week; if you like the under, lingering optimism around both offenses could push this to 51, offering a better number later.

Prop markets will be heavy with quarterback action. Dual-threat rushing props, passing yards, passing touchdowns, and longest completion are common hooks. Anytime touchdown scorer prices can get expensive on star quarterbacks or featured backs, but they can also be anchor legs for a same-game parlay. If you go that route, look for correlation (for example, if you like a quarterback’s over in rushing yards, tying that to his team’s moneyline can make sense). Avoid stuffing too many unrelated legs; correlation is your friend, but randomness is not.

Live betting can be your edge if you trust your read on game flow. If Baltimore starts fast with scripted plays, you might find a better number on Buffalo live, especially if the Bills’ defense settles in during the second quarter. Conversely, if Buffalo opens with tempo and Baltimore’s ground game needs a drive or two to lock in, a discounted Ravens moneyline or spread can appear by the end of the first quarter. Week 1 brings volatility; price swings will come quickly.

Historical head-to-heads between these two have been tight, often decided by one score and shaped by a handful of explosive plays. That context reinforces why this spread is stuck near pick’em. Market-makers are pricing the quarterbacks more than anything else—and that tends to be a good compass in marquee NFL games.

Teasers? Moving a -1 favorite out to -7 isn’t the profile you want. Standard six-point teasers are most valuable when you can cross the key numbers 3 and 7. With Buffalo roughly even money, teasing the Bills up through +3 and +7 can be more attractive than moving Baltimore to a bigger favorite. Just note that Week 1 totals in the low 50s can complicate teaser math since higher totals increase variance.

If you’re brand new to betting, here’s the quick roadmap: set your budget, choose one or two books with offers that match your style, and keep your wagers simple. A straight moneyline or spread bet is fine. If you claim bonus bets, plan ahead for how you’ll use them. Don’t feel rushed by the clock—these markets will be open all week, and live options will be there on Sunday night.

Best sportsbook promos and how to use them

Best sportsbook promos and how to use them

This Week 1 showcase arrives with one of the largest promo slates you’ll see all year. Many offers target new users, but there’s enough variety here that almost any bettor can find a fit. Highlights:

  • bet365 Sportsbook (Maryland launch and multiple states): Bet $5, Get $300 in bonus bets, win or lose. Promo codes referenced by partners include HANDLE or TOPACTION. Available in states such as AZ, CO, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, NC, NJ, OH, PA, TN, VA, and now MD. Bonus bets generally have short windows to use (often 7–14 days), so map out your plays across Sunday and Monday.
  • FanDuel Sportsbook: Bet $5 on any market and get $300 in bonus bets if your first wager wins. It’s conditional, which means the value is excellent if you’re already confident in a side or prop.
  • DraftKings Sportsbook: Bet $5, Get $300 in the form of twelve $25 bonus bets, delivered right after your qualifying wager. There’s also a $200 discount on NFL Sunday Ticket, bringing the price to about $176. Bonus bets expire in seven days, and both deposit and bonus require a 1x playthrough before withdrawal.
  • ESPN BET: Use promo code DIME to unlock a Bet $10, Get $100 bundle that includes bonus bets and ESPN+ access. You’ll need to enter the code during registration.
  • BetMGM: With bonus code CBSSPORTS, get up to $1,500 back in bonus bets if your first wager loses—a classic second-chance format designed to reduce the sting of a near miss.
  • Fanatics Sportsbook: If your initial football bet loses, receive $100 in FanCash plus more than 20 additional $100 No Sweat Bets in FanCash on each Game Day from late August through October. FanCash can be converted to bonus bets, giving you a long runway of action.

Add it all up and a new user could, in theory, stack over $4,400 in bonus value by signing up at multiple books. That headline number sounds huge—just remember that bonus bets aren’t cash. They’re credits you’ll use to place bets, and when they win, you receive only the profit, not the stake back. That’s why picking the right targets for bonus bets matters.

Which offer fits your style?

  • If you want guaranteed value: bet365’s $5 for $300 is simple and reliable. Whether your first pick hits or misses, you know the bonus is coming.
  • If you’re confident in your first pick: FanDuel’s conditional $300 can be big if you already like a side or prop at a playable price.
  • If you like spreading action across multiple bets: DraftKings’ twelve $25 bonus bets let you test different markets—sides, totals, player props—without putting more of your own cash in.
  • If you worry about bad beats: BetMGM’s second-chance up to $1,500 means a loss doesn’t end your night. You’ll get bonus bets back to take another swing.
  • If you want ongoing value: Fanatics’ FanCash structure stretches benefits across many game days, good for frequent bettors who like a steady stream of plays.

How to use bonus bets smartly

  • Prioritize plus-money targets. Since you don’t get the stake back on bonus bets, +150 or +200 type plays tend to offer better expected value than laying heavy juice.
  • Keep it simple. A single bet at +150 is usually better EV than a six-leg parlay with a similar combined price but much higher variance.
  • Match market to story. If you expect an explosive start, consider first-half totals or a first touchdown scorer. If you expect a tight defensive script, look at under-related props like longest completion under or longest field goal over (if weather cooperates).
  • Mind the clock. If your bonus bets expire in seven days, plan your Sunday Night Football card first, then allocate leftovers to Monday Night Football or next week’s early lines.

A quick example of bonus-bet math: If you place a $50 bonus bet at +100 and it wins, you profit $50. If you place that same $50 bonus bet at +250 and it wins, you profit $125. You’re taking on more risk, but the upside is exactly why plus-money is preferable for bonus credits.

Sign-up basics (no links needed):

  1. Download the app or open the site, enable location services, and start registration.
  2. Enter the correct promo code (if required) during sign-up or first deposit.
  3. Verify identity (SSN last four, driver’s license) and set deposit limits.
  4. Make your first deposit (usually $5–$10 minimum) and place the qualifying wager.
  5. Track bonus delivery and expiry dates in your promos tab, then plan your bets.

Maryland spotlight: bet365’s arrival gives locals another big-name option as Baltimore kicks off at home. It also raises the bar on pricing and promos across the state’s legal books. For in-state bettors, that competition usually means tighter spreads, faster markets, and more creative offers around big events like Sunday Night Football.

Line shopping remains your best edge. With a spread this tight, a half-point swing or a five-cent moneyline difference can change your long-term results. Check multiple books for -1 versus pick’em, or for totals drifting between 50 and 51. The market won’t sit still all week, especially with injury reports and weather updates due on Friday and Sunday morning.

Market notes to monitor:

  • Injury statuses on offensive line starters and cornerbacks. Either can tilt this spread by a point in the final 48 hours.
  • Wind forecasts inside 24 hours of kickoff. Quarterback arm strength helps, but swirling winds in Baltimore can suppress deep shots and kick accuracy, pushing totals down.
  • Offensive pace signals from preseason usage. Week 1 play-calling often changes, but the first 15 scripted plays usually reveal intent. Live markets react to that quickly.

If you’re building a same-game parlay, pick a storyline and stick to it. For a Baltimore-friendly script: Ravens moneyline, team total over, QB rushing yards over, and a short-yardage touchdown scorer. For a Buffalo-friendly script: Bills +alt line, quarterback passing yards over, over on longest completion, and a late-game field goal prop. You don’t need five or six legs; three or four well-correlated picks can be enough.

Don’t forget taxes and responsible play. Winnings are taxable. Track your net results, and set a budget before kickoff. If you’re in a legal state, you must be 21+ (or 18+ in a few jurisdictions) and within state lines to wager. If you feel your betting is getting away from you, use the in-app tools—deposit limits, timeouts, and self-exclusion are there for a reason.

Quick snapshot for Sunday night: kickoff at 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC broadcast, and a live market that’ll be buzzing from the first snap. Baltimore around -120 on the moneyline, Buffalo at +100, spread sitting near -1, and total 50.5—numbers that say this one could turn on a single possession. If you’re going to use those bonus bets, pick your spots, shop the line, and let the game come to you.

Bottom line on approach: match the promo to your comfort level, pick a clean angle on the game script, and avoid overextending just because the offers look generous. Week 1 brings chaos; the smartest play is usually the one you planned on Wednesday, not the impulse bet you placed at 8:18 p.m. Sunday.