NFL betting tells us that the Baltimore Ravens signed first round pick Michael Oher to a five year deal. Oher was the 23rd overall pick in the NFL Draft and he is expected to start immediately for the Ravens this season. NFL odds have the Baltimore Ravens as one of the darkhorse candidates to win the Super Bowl this year.
NFL numbers have the contract Oher signed being worth substantially more than last year’s #23 pick. NFL tells us that the deal was worked out between Oher’s agent, Jimmy Sexton, and Ravens vice president of football operations Pat Moriarty. “We knew Michael wanted to be here,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said, Ozzie wanted him to be here, and his agent wanted him to be here, too. The agent wanted to make sure he did the right thing by Michael, and we wanted that.” The Ravens have been very good about getting draft picks signed in recent seasons and this year is no exception. Not many picks hold out with Baltimore.
Baltimore is counting on Oher to protect franchise quarterback Joe Flacco for many years to come as NFL betting indicates. Oher is considered a future All-Pro that the Ravens were able to get in the Draft as Oher went lower than he should have as NFL betting experts indicated. The Ravens made the AFC Championship game last season and were one of the NFL surprises in 2008. They are not going under the radar in 2009 in NFL odds. Baltimore is still ranked behind Pittsburgh in NFL betting but they are not that far back in NFL odds.
The question for NFL gamblers who look at the Ravens in NFL betting will be whether or not last year was a fluke. Most sports betting people believe the Ravens are for real and will be a contender in NFL odds again this season. The Ravens have a talented young quarterback, a solid running game and a very good defense. They have some questions at wide receiver if Derrick Mason stays retired but so far it has not impacted their NFL betting odds. Getting Oher into camp won’t affect their NFL numbers either, but it sure doesn’t hurt their online sports betting chances in 2009. Baltimore should be an interesting team to follow in sports betting this season.