Entering their Thursday night matchup against the Miami Dolphins, the Baltimore Ravens found themselves in a familiar spot among sports bettors — though far from where they’re used to being in the standings.
The Ravens entered the week with a 2-5 record, sitting only percentage points above the last-place Browns. Still, bettors appear more optimistic than the standings suggest.
Following their win over the Bears this past weekend — achieved without Lamar Jackson — sportsbooks across the country have once again listed the Ravens as the favorites to win the AFC North. The Ravens are currently even money to win the division, with the Steelers at +175 with the shortest odds after them. Far behind them are the Bengals, sitting at 5-to-1 despite holding second place, and the struggling Browns at +3000.
It’s hard to argue with the oddsmakers. Despite their record, Baltimore looks like a value play. The Ravens will get their MVP back with Lamar Jackson returning this week, several key defensive players are healthy again, and the schedule ahead is one of the league’s softest.
After facing the 2-6 Dolphins, the Ravens will have 10 days to prepare for the Vikings, who are starting a rookie quarterback. The same goes for their Week 11 matchup with the Browns. From there, they’ll meet the last-place Jets and the under-.500 Bengals before hosting the Steelers.
That means Baltimore won’t face a team with a winning record until that Steelers matchup, with their upcoming opponents combining for an abysmal 11-28 record. The Steelers, on the other hand, face two winning teams over the next two weeks (a combined 12-4), plus matchups with the Ravens twice, the Bills, and the Lions.
So, while it may seem like an overreaction to one win, betting on the Ravens right now looks like a smart long play.