Baltimore Ravens NFL Prediction: 2021 Season Betting Odds and Preview
The Baltimore Ravens should have cruised to the AFC North crown last year, but an 11-game Pittsburgh win streak was too much to overcome. Baltimore still finished with a solid 11-5 record, becoming one of eight AFC teams to hit double-digit wins. This year, expectations are even higher as they compete with Kansas City and Buffalo for AFC supremacy. Can star quarterback Lamar Jackson take the next step in his career and get the Ravens to the Super Bowl in 2021?
Veteran Additions
WR Sammy Watkins, TE Josh Oliver, OT Alejandro Villanueva, OT Ja’Wuan James, G Kevin Zeitler, G Michael Schofield, OLB Justin Houston
Notable Draft Picks
WR Rashod Bateman, DE/OLB Odafe Oweh, G Ben Cleveland, CB/S Brandon Stephens, WR Tylan Wallace
Offseason Losses
RB Mark Ingram, WR Willie Snead, OT Orlando Brown, OT D.J. Fluker, C Matt Skura, DT Jihad Ward, OLB Yannick Ngakoue, OLB Matthew Judon
Baltimore Ravens Acquisitions and Moves
After a 2019 season that ended in Lamar Jackson being named the NFL MVP, Baltimore’s star quarterback took a step back last year. A big part of that was a banged up offensive line. Baltimore upgraded at right tackle by trading Orlando Brown to Kansas City and replacing him in free agency with former Steeler Alejandro Villanueva. Left tackle Ronnie Stanley is also healthy after missing the second half of 2020 with an ankle injury.
Jackson will have some new offensive threats to throw to this year in free agent signee Sammy Watkins and 2021 first-round draft pick Rashod Bateman. Watkins was instrumental in Kansas City’s 2019 Super Bowl LIV win and is a constant threat when he is healthy, but he’s dealt with injuries over the last couple of seasons. When Bateman makes his regular season NFL debut, he is expected to make an immediate impact on the field, although he’ll miss at least the first three games of the year with a groin injury.
The biggest loss of the preseason is second-year running back J.K. Dobbins, who will miss the entire year after tearing his ACL in the final preseason game. Dobbins isn’t the only Baltimore player to have their year end early in the preseason. Linebacker L.J. Fort will also miss the season with a torn ACL. Free agent signee Justin Houston should be able to fill some of the hole at linebacker left after Fort’s injury.
The Ravens are banking on some of their younger players to step up and replace edge rushers Yannick Ngakoue and Matthew Judon, who both left in free agency. Baltimore’s other first-round pick in the 2021 draft, Odafe Oweh, has shown flashes of his high potential in the preseason, although he’s been a bit inconsistent as he adjusts to the speed of the NFL.
Baltimore Ravens 2021 NFL Schedule
After finishing with double-digit wins last year, the NFL didn’t do Baltimore any favours in 2021. The Ravens have the second-most difficult schedule in the league, behind division rival Pittsburgh. Their opponents had a combined .563 win percentage last season.
Baltimore’s easiest stretch of the season runs from Oct. 11 to Nov. 7. In that stretch they’ll have home games against the Colts, Chargers and Bengals, before a Week 8 bye and another home game, this time against the Vikings. The toughest stretch of games is likely Week 10 to Week 14, when they’ll play four of five games on the road. Three of the five games in that stretch are also divisional games.
Week 1: Monday, Sept. 13 @ Las Vegas Raiders, 8:15 p.m
Week 2: Sunday, Sept. 19 vs. Kansas City Chiefs, 8:20 p.m.
Week 3: Sunday, Sept. 26 @ Detroit Lions, 1 p.m.
Week 4: Sunday, Oct. 3 @ Denver Broncos, 4:25 p.m.
Week 5: Monday, Oct. 11 vs. Indianapolis Colts, 8:15 p.m.
Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 17 vs. Los Angeles Chargers, 1 p.m.
Week 7: Sunday, Oct. 24 vs. Cincinnati Bengals, 1 p.m.
Week 8: BYE
Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 7 vs. Minnesota Vikings, 1 p.m.
Week 10: Monday, Nov. 11 @ Miami Dolphins, 8:20 p.m.
Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 21 @ Chicago Bears, 1 p.m.
Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 28 vs. Cleveland Browns, 8:20 p.m.
Week 13: Sunday, December 5 @ Pittsburgh Steelers, 4:25 p.m.
Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 12 @ Cleveland Browns, 1 p.m.
Week 15: Sunday, December 19 vs. Green Bay Packers, 1 p.m.
Week 16: Sunday, Dec. 26 @ Cincinnati Bengals, 1 p.m.
Week 17: Sunday, Jan. 2 vs. Los Angeles Rams, 4:25 p.m.
Week 18: Sunday, Jan. 9 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, 1 p.m.
Baltimore Ravens NFL Betting Odds
It’s a pretty safe bet to take the Ravens making the playoffs at -313, albeit not a huge payout. The better value lies with their regular season win total of 10.5 and taking the Over at -154. They broke that number last season with a weaker roster, plus there’s the extra 17th game this year.
Baltimore is a +110 favourite to win the AFC North. With Kansas City and Buffalo ahead of them in the odds to win the AFC Conference outright, it’s great value to take the Ravens at +582. If you’re looking to stay away from the Top 3 Super Bowl favourites, Baltimore is a nice option at +1204.
Baltimore Ravens 2021 Season Prediction
As is usually the case, the AFC North comes down to the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers. The division is becoming much more competitive with Cleveland’s turnaround and I expect Joe Burrow to make Cincinnati a threat in a couple years, but for now it’s still the Ravens and Steelers at the top. Look for Baltimore to win the AFC North this year with a 12-5 record.