Betting on Baltimore: Are Ravens' Super Bowl Odds Realistic for 2024?
The odds are out for which team is expected to win the Super Bowl next season, and the Baltimore Ravens are a top-three favorite in the NFL according to Fanduel sports book (+900).
Baltimore looked like an unstoppable force to close out the regular season, but that didn’t translate in the AFC Championship game, so does the team deserve to be one of the biggest Super Bowl favorites a year from now?
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Sure, the team was sensational in 2023, but a lot of factors went into that, which may not be as guaranteed next year.
One thing that the Ravens will have to prove is that the team’s defense can remain elite despite losing defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald, who had a phenomenal season coaching and was rewarded with a head coaching job with the Seattle Seahawks.
Speaking of losing people on defense, defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, defensive tackle Justin Madubuike, and linebacker Patrick Queen are all free agents this offseason.
Each of those three players was an essential part of why Baltimore was such a juggernaut on defense this season and kept the team in it against the Kansas City Chiefs despite offensive struggles. Losing role players will hurt depth, but these three guys are unlikely to all return next season, and that’s cause for concern regarding the team’s current odds.
It’s understandable why the Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers are ranked ahead of the Ravens in next season’s odds, considering that both will be competing for the Super Bowl this weekend, but in order for Baltimore to remain competitive with those teams in 2024, it will take a lot of luck this offseason and next regular season.
Can Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely both thrive on the field together? Will the Ravens get a true No. 1 running back? If Odell Beckham Jr. leaves, does this young wide receiver room have the maturity to succeed in year two without the veteran's presence? Can Lamar Jackson have a second straight MVP-caliber season, and will the team’s health hold up?
Younger teams, such as the Detroit Lions, seem to have an easier path back to a deep playoff run than Baltimore, who will have much more to replace in 2024, so perhaps the top three odds are a bit high considering all the factors out of the team's control, including a healthier AFC North.
