2018 Baltimore Ravens Season Win Totals Predictions and Expert Picks

2017 Record: 9-7

2018 Las Vegas Season Win Total: 8.5

2018 Season Win Total Picks NCAA Football: 'Over'

If you are looking for an X-factor in the AFC then you might just have found it with the Baltimore Ravens. I think that this team is one of the most unpredictable in the conference, capable of winning 12 games and being a factor or bottoming out with six wins before launching a massive franchise rebuild.

Motivation certainly isn't the issue. John Harbaugh is coaching for his job. Joe Flacco is playing for his. Ozzie Newsome, one of the best general managers in league history, is retiring and wants one last playoff run. And after missing out on the playoffs on the last moment of the 2017 regular season, this entire Ravens team is hungry heading into the 2018 campaign.

It starts with Flacco. He has been tormented by injuries to his back and knee the past two seasons. But he is finally healthy and has looked sharp so far this preseason. Of course, watching the team draft his successor (Lamar Jackson) last April certainly lit a fire under him as well.

Newsome undertook his annual purge of the Ravens receiving corps. And the Ravens are hoping that Willie Snead, Michael Crabtree and John Brown can recapture some of their former magic. Baltimore has a solid offensive line and some pop in the running game. Their substandard tight end play should continue this season.

Defensively, Baltimore produced an outstanding 34 turnovers last season and led the league with a plus-17 differential. In fact, it is a little disconcerting that the Ravens could have such an excellent turnover differential and still not make the playoffs. But if they are anywhere close to those numbers again this year then postseason play won't be an issue.

The Ravens were unlucky with injuries last year and they underperformed against their Pythagorean win total by 1.5 games. In fact, they went 9-7 while Pittsburgh went 13-3. But Baltimore outscored its opponents by 92 points, while the Steelers outscored opponents by just 98 points. That's how thin the margin for error is in the NFL.

The Ravens don't have a lot of top-end talent. But they are rock solid on both sides of the ball, and they really don't have any clear weaknesses. I like the urgency I've seen out of this team so far this August. And if they can survive a three-game road trip between Weeks 4-6 (they play five road games in seven weeks between Week 2 and Week 8) then Baltimore will be in business.

The Ravens have increased their win total each of the last two seasons. But they've gone just 40-40 since winning the Super Bowl in 2012. It's time for Harbaugh and Flacco to put up or shut up. With this schedule it's going to be tough sledding. But I think the Ravens are up for it, and I think they can get back to 10 wins. I'll bite on the 'over'.

Robert Ferringo has been the top football handicapper in the country the past seven years, earning nearly $28,000 in total football profit. He has also posted seven of nine winning seasons (including back-to-back winning years) and produced 26 of 41 winning football months and an amazing 45 of 70 winning football months over the past decade. Robert has eight of 10 winning NFL preseasons and he is at nearly 60 percent winners over his last 900 totals picks. Also, Robert's proprietary KING College Football Betting System has posted three of five winning seasons. Robert is looking for a third straight winning football year and wants more profit this fall. SIGN UP HERE TODAY AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR 3-FOR-1 FOOTBALL SPECIALS!

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