Oddsmakers are finally feeling the Baltimore Ravens as completely as they should this season, tying for the best odds to win Super Bowl LV.
After sitting behind the Kansas City Chiefs for months, something finally changed to get at least one oddsmaker on board the Ravens’ bandwagon. The last time we checked the odds was right after the 2020 NFL Draft, the last real meaningful change to the rosters. But now, BetMGM has placed +650 odds on both Baltimore and Kansas City, with the San Francisco 49ers coming in third at +800. Furthermore, BetMGM has placed the best odds on the AFC North to win Super Bowl LV, tying the division with the NFC West at +400.
Since nothing has really changed with any of the teams since the 2020 NFL Draft, oddsmakers might be feeling the Ravens will do a better job with the coronavirus restrictions. Unlike previous seasons, training camp is the first time the players and coaches will have gotten together since the end of last season. Continuity in the coaching staff and rosters, along with any private offseason work players are doing could all have far bigger impacts this season than in previous ones.
Baltimore is returning 10 of 11 starters on offense, while retaining nearly all of their key defensive contributors. At the same time, the Ravens have revamped their defensive line with the additions of Calais Campbell and Derek Wolfe as well as bolstering the linebacker corps with rookies Patrick Queen and Malik Harrison. The addition of wide receivers Devin Duvernay and James Proche along with running back J.K. Dobbins in the 2020 NFL Draft could pay huge dividends for what was the highest-scoring offense in the league last season.
Whatever the reasoning, at least one oddsmaker is finally putting the Ravens at the top of the pile. Now, it’s just up to Baltimore to live up to that hype.
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