2019 Baltimore Ravens Odds to win the Super Bowl with Expert Betting Predictions

After making the playoffs six times in seven years, and winning a Super Bowl, the Ravens had hit a rough patch and had missed the playoffs three years in a row. They had improved each of those three years, so it wasn't a total disaster, but it wasn't ideal. But last year they won 10 games and grabbed a wild card spot. They lost that game, but it was still an important step forward for one of the more stable franchises out there. And that has set up some expectations this year. Few expect this is a Super Bowl contender , or even a playoff lock, but we know that they are capable of making the postseason now, and they have largely had a positive offseason. What does this year have in store for them?

Baltimore Ravens Coaching

Things are relatively stable, as John Harbaugh enters his 12th year coaching the team. There will be some adjustment for him as Ozzie Newsome, the only GM he ever worked for, has retired. New GM Eric DeCosta worked for Newsome for the last 20 years, though, so there won't be too much change. The big shift was at offensive coordinator, where Marty Mornhinweg has been let go after three underwhelming seasons and Greg Roman has been elevated to replace him. Roman had been coaching tight ends the last two years in Baltimore and was also assistant head coach last year. He previously ran offenses in Buffalo and in San Francisco for John's brother Jim. He had great success with Colin Kaepernick, and Tyrod Taylor played well under him in Buffalo, so he seems like a strong fit for the very mobile Lamar Jackson.

Baltimore Ravens Quarterback Situation

Jackson no longer has to guess whether it is his team or not. We'll see how that goes for the team. With Joe Flacco gone, the team will now have Robert Griffin III as the primary backup, with sixth-round pick Trace McSorley from Penn State looking to prove himself and earn a spot. Journeyman Joe Callahan is kicking around as a camp body as well. It's not the best QB room in the league by any means. However, if Jackson can take a step forward under Roman after a promising but uneven rookie year, then he could lead the way for this team. Having the experience of playing in the playoffs, even if it didn't go great for him, should help him now.

How The Baltimore Ravens Improved

Getting clarity at QB was important, and they did alright in the Flacco deal - he was swapped for a pick that turned into interesting running back Justice Hill from Oklahoma State. And by elevating Roman, they gave Jackson a better chance at success. Hill was far from the only move to add offensive weapons, as they drafted two receivers with their top three picks and added Mark Ingram in free agency.

How The Baltimore Ravens Got Worse

The pass rush is a big question. Terrell Suggs left in free agency. No Raven has ever had more sacks for the team. And Za'Darius Smith, who led the team in sacks last year, is gone as well. They swung for some of the big pass rush names in free agency but didn't land one. So now rookie linebacker Jaylon Ferguson, a third-rounder, and some unproven veterans, will really need to step up or opposing quarterbacks will have too much time to do some damage.

Baltimore Ravens Schedule Analysis

They get a virtual preseason game to start things when they open at the Dolphins. Then they get to see what the Kyler Murray experience looks like close up when they host Arizona in the second week. Then a tough three-game stretch - at Kansas City, vs. Cleveland and at Pittsburgh - will really tell people what this team is made of. They close with divisional games at Cleveland and against Pittsburgh. So, if things are tight at that point, we could really see some late fireworks.

2019-20 Baltimore Ravens Betting Odds and Trends

The Ravens are at +3300 to win the Super Bowl, which has them tied with Seattle and behind 16 other teams. They are the eighth choice to win the AFC at +1600 and the third choice to win the AFC North at +300. Their season win total is set at 8, with the "over" favored at -120. They are at -210 to miss the playoffs, compared to +175 to make it. They are +4000 to have the best record in the league and +1400 to have the worst, so they seem destined to wind up somewhere in the middle of the league. In terms of awards, Lamar Jackson is a long shot to win MVP at +3300, and first-round pick Marquise Brown, the receiver from Oklahoma, was a Top 10 choice at +2500 to win the offensive rookie of the year. Jackson is at a huge +20000 to lead the league in passing yards, and +25000 to lead in touchdowns, but a relatively low +2800 to be tops in interceptions. Willie Snead is the longest shot on the board to lead the league in receptions at +25000. Mark Ingram is a long shot as well to lead the league in rushing yards at +5000.

2019-20 Baltimore Ravens Predictions and NFL Picks

I have faith in John Harbaugh, and I still haven't lost the feelings of joy I got from watching Jackson play in college, so I like this team. I don't think that they are a strong contender to win the division, but I can't entirely rule it out, either. And while I don't have them written into the playoffs in pen, and the AFC is brutal, I can't rule that out, either. If I was forced to pick, I would put them at nine wins and just outside of the postseason. But I expect a fairly positive season all in all.

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