The Baltimore Ravens finished the 2020 season with a record of 11-5 and took the number two spot in the AFC North. Once the playoffs began, the Ravens faced off against the Tennessee Titans. Tennessee was having a remarkable year and finished with an 11-5 record atop the AFC South. The game between the Ravens and Titans was competitive, with the Ravens winning 20-13.
Heading into his fourteenth year as head coach, John Harbaugh will look to lead the Ravens back to the playoffs. More than that, he’s tasked himself with getting to the Super Bowl. They’ll have plenty of teams to beat to get there though. the Kansas City Chiefs are a team the Ravens have struggled to beat, especially in championship games. The bar is set high for the Ravens this year, but can they achieve these goals? More importantly, what bets can you make on the Ravens this season?
2021 Baltimore Ravens Futures Betting Odds
Baltimore Ravens Super Bowl Odds: +1400
Baltimore Ravens AFC Championship Odds: +650
Baltimore Ravens Win Total Odds: Over 11 (-150) / Under 11 (+120)
Baltimore Ravens AFC North Winner Odds: +125
The Baltimore Ravens lead the pack in odds to win the AFC North. Winning the division would basically guarantee them a spot in the playoffs. However, there’s a team following closely behind the Ravens in the odds, the Cleveland Browns. Last season, the Ravens won both of their divisional games against the Browns. The Browns have done some work in the offseason though and could contend with the Ravens this year. The question is, how much of a chance do the Ravens have to hold onto the division.
The division is going to boil down to QB Lamar Jackson’s success. Especially if he can continue to improve as a quarterback while still being a threat from the backfield. Though the year last season, Jackson was a dual-threat. By the end of the year, he threw for over 2,700 yards and rushed for over 1,000. Considering teams have still not found a game plan to stop Lamar, we have to expect the Ravens to have similar success in 2021.
2021 Baltimore Ravens Offseason Grade: B+
Key Additions: (T, Alejandro Villanueva), (WR, Rashod Bateman), (WR, Sammy Watkins)
Key Departures: (RB, Mark Ingram)
This year, the Baltimore Ravens made some incredible signings, mainly Alejandro Villanueva. Villanueva is a premier tackle in the NFL and will provide Lamar Jackson with much-needed protection. They also brought in two additional receivers for the young quarterback. Drafting Rashod Bateman, out of the University of Minnesota, gives Jackson a great route-runner. The addition of Sammy Watkins will give Jackson a veteran receiver with reliable hands.
The only concerning loss is running back Mark Ingram, who not only produced on the field. Ingram was a locker room presence that lifted the spirits of players, fans, and the press. For morale purposes, the loss of Ingram will be a huge hit to the Ravens. Hopefully, we’ll see another player on the roster fill the hole of leadership on the team left behind.
Baltimore Ravens Preview 2021
The Ravens are in a great spot to repeat their success from last year. The question now is how much have they improved in the offseason. The great news for them is they’ve added a strong offensive tackle that gives Jackson more time in the pocket. Jackson has been a problem for defenses since he came into the league and this only helps. With Lamar having more time to push the ball down the field with his arms, the Ravens’ offense will be lethal.
If their defense can contend with the offense of the Chiefs, the Ravens are a great choice to take the division. We won’t know how strong the defense is until the beginning of the season though. In Week 2, we’ll see just how tough the Ravens will be this year because they’ll face the reigning AFC Champions.
Baltimore Ravens Futures Best Bets
Taking the Ravens to win the AFC North is the best bet you can make on them this season. Every bet besides that becomes risky, especially their win total. The Ravens would have to win 11 games to hit the over, giving them only six games to lose. It’s possible they win those eleven, but it’s also possible for them to lose more than six. Stick with them to win the AFC North, the best bet to make on this growing team.
Read our 2021 Buccaneers team preview and 2021 Bills team preview next.
