One of the teams that have gotten a lot of action in NFL betting futures is the Baltimore Ravens. Many people who make an NFL bet believe that Baltimore will be improved this season with the addition of wide receiver Anquan Boldin but the Ravens have serious problems on defense, especially in the secondary. NFL betting odds list Baltimore at 10-1 to win the Super Bowl. Those odds are pretty low considering the injury concerns in the secondary. Starting cornerback Domonique Foxworth tore his anterior cruciate ligament in Thursday’s practice and will miss the season. The Ravens already have injury problems in the secondary as Fabian Washington and Lardarius Webb are hurt while Ed Reed will start the season on the physically unable to perform list.
The loss of Foxworth is huge. He was fourth on the team in tackles last season and he had four interceptions. Baltimore really doesn’t have any depth in the secondary and Washington and Webb are coming off injuries. Reed is expected to be out for at least the first six games of the season.
The Ravens are still talking like a Super Bowl contender but they are going to have to prove they can stop other teams passing attacks. Reed is a playmaker in the secondary and he will be missed and Foxworth was the top cornerback on the team and he is out for the season. The Ravens were the third best defense in the league last season. They were 8th against the pass but those numbers are almost assuredly going to be worse this season since Foxworth was the best defender in the secondary. If the Ravens had Reed healthy then perhaps they could survive the injury to their top corner but without Reed at safety to make up for mistakes, the Ravens are going to give up big plays. Those making an NFL bet realize that the Raven’s offense is improved and perhaps they can score enough points to make up for their defensive losses.
What helps the Ravens is their early season schedule. They do not face strong passing teams in the first few weeks of the regular season. They are at the New York Jets, at Cincinnati, home vs. Cleveland and at Pittsburgh who is without Ben Roethlisberger.