Introduction to NFL Ravens betting
Baltimore Ravens fans love betting on their team. The big questions are — What are the best NFL Ravens bets to place and where can you find the best Ravens NFL odds?
This guide will address those questions by giving you all the NFL news Ravens fans need to know. Plus, find out about the different types of betting markets you can find for Baltimore Ravens NFL bets and discover our top tips for betting on this team.
A brief history of the Baltimore Ravens
Formed in 1996 by former Cleveland Browns owner Art Modell, the Baltimore Ravens are one of the newest franchises in the NFL
Despite their relatively tender years, the Ravens have established themselves as one of the premier sides in the entire NFL. It took them just four years to win their first Super Bowl title — a 34-7 trouncing of the New York Giants in February 2000, and they have subsequently made 13 appearances in the post season.
2013 Triumph and subsequent seasons
Their second Super Bowl triumph arrived in 2013, with a thrilling 34-31 win over the San Francisco 49ers. That title was largely down to some all-time great playoff performances by quarterback Joe Flacco. The signal-caller finished the post season with 11 touchdowns and zero interceptions — the joint-best record in league history.
The next few seasons were a mixed bag for the Ravens. All action quarterback Lamar Jackson produced some stunning regular-season displays (including an MVP winning campaign in 2019). Unfortunately, the Ravens have fallen short in the playoffs, and they are still looking for their third Super Bowl appearance.
Culture and rivalries
Over the years, the Ravens identity has been built on hard-hitting defensive play. All-time great defensive players, such as linebacker Ray Lewis and safety Ed Reed, have starred for Baltimore and been a key part of their success.
Similarly, top level coaching and management have been vital to the Ravens excellent record. General Manager Ozzie Newsome was widely regarded as one of the best player recruiters in the league during his 16 years in the role. Current head coach John Harbaugh has been in charge since 2008 — making him the second-longest serving coach in the league.
The Baltimore Ravens play in the AFC North division, traditionally one of the most fiercely contested divisions in the NFL. The Ravens biggest rivals are the Pittsburgh Steelers, and, in recent years, the teams’ encounters have developed a big reputation for hard-hitting defensive football and tight finishes.
What are the different types of Ravens NFL bets?
If you want to place a selection of Ravens NFL bets in any season, you have a host of enticing options available to you. Broadly speaking, we can categorize NFL Ravens markets in the following ways:
Moneylines
This is the easiest NFL market to understand, hence why it is very popular with casual Baltimore Ravens fans. All you have to do is pick the winner of the game. Most Baltimore Ravens NFL games have a favorite and an underdog.
Your decision is whether to back the short priced favorite or bet on the underdog winning at longer odds. Whilst the first option is a safer bet, the second option gives you the chance to land a much bigger win.
Spread betting
To make the betting market more even, the spread market essentially gives the underdog a virtual points advantage. This makes the prices for both teams almost identical. When spread betting, you can bet that the underdog will “cover the spread” or that the favorite will “beat the spread”.
‘Covering the spread’ means that the underdog either wins the game outright or loses by less than the amount of the spread. ‘Beating the spread’ means that the favorite wins by more than the amount of the spread.
For example, let’s say the Ravens are 4.5-point favorites for an upcoming game against the New York Jets. This means that in order to beat the spread, the Ravens need to win by 5 points or more, anything less than that means the Jets have covered the spread and win the market.
Over/Unders
Sometimes known as ‘Totals’, over/under bets require you to predict whether the total value of a specific parameter will be exceeded, or not, in a Ravens NFL game. The most common over/under market is for the total number of points in a Baltimore Ravens NFL game.
The betting operator gives you a number. Typically, this will be around the 40-50 point mark. You bet on whether the total points scored by both teams in the game will be more or less than that predicted number.
Nowadays, you can also find totals markets for both individual and team receiving, passing, and rushing yards, as well as for the total points scored in each quarter or half.
Prop bets
These cover most other NFL Baltimore Ravens markets. You can place prop bets on whether a specific event or events will occur during the game. For example, you could bet on whether there will be a touchdown in the first quarter or whether the final points will come from a field goal.
You can also place prop bets on the first or last touchdown scorer in a game or on whether a specified player will find the end zone at any point. For big games such as the Super Bowl, you will find an even bigger selection of prop bets covering events such as the halftime show and even the pre-game national anthem.
Parlay bets
Often known as accumulators or accas in some countries, Parlay bets relate to bets placed on multiple markets. Each part of the parlay is known as a ‘leg’ and in order to win the bet you need every leg to be a winner. Parlay bets can be on multiple markets relating to the same game, or you can place bets across multiple NFL fixtures. A bet in the former category could be placed on a Ravens victory as well as a specified player scoring a touchdown. However, a multi-game parlay could be a combination of moneyline bets on the result of two or more different NFL fixtures.
There is no limit to the number of legs a parlay bet can have, but obviously the more legs you have, the harder it is to achieve a winning bet.
Futures
Finally, if you want to back the Ravens to go all the way, you can look at the futures markets and place a bet on them winning the Super Bowl. The longest odds will be available at the start of the season. However, the odds in this market will change on a weekly basis depending upon how well the Ravens and other teams are playing, plus other related factors such as injuries and suspensions. Other futures markets include the top touchdown scorer in the league, the leading rusher and even the season’s MVP.
Top tips for NFL Ravens betting
We have given you a good understanding of the different Ravens NFL markets available to you. Now it is time to help you find those all important Baltimore Ravens NFL winning bets.
Unfortunately, we do not possess a crystal ball, so we cannot tell you exactly what is going to happen to the Ravens in any season. But we can give you some expert tips that will maximize your chances of finding some winning wagers.
Research the matchups
At the very least, you need to look at the Ravens’ head-to-head record versus their opponents, as this can really help you spot value in the betting markets. But because the NFL is so rich in statistics, your research should be a lot more thorough. For example, how does the Ravens head coach’s record stack up against that of the Ravens next opponents? How does their quarterback perform versus specific defensive schemes? Do the Ravens rush successfully against 4-3 defenses?
The list of head-to-head statistics you can study is virtually endless. But the more you study, the more likely you are to discover betting value.
Join multiple betting sites
At the time of writing, you can find the Baltimore Ravens priced anywhere between 1700 and 2300 to win next season’s Super Bowl. Clearly, you will maximize your winnings by placing your bet at the site with the longest odds. The best way of ensuring that you can get those preferential odds is to sign up to a wide range of NFL betting operators. You can also use an odds comparison tool when weighing up the markets to help you identify the best value.
Use your head
Being a Ravens fan, you naturally want Baltimore to win every week. Sadly, even the best NFL teams lose their fair share of games. The NFL Ravens schedule will always throw up a selection of very tough games, so betting on a Baltimore victory may not always be the smart move.
Try to put your fandom to one side when betting on Ravens NFL games. Should your research lead you to conclude that the Ravens will lose, do not bet on a Baltimore victory. If the thought of betting against your team is too much to bear, then just avoid wagering on that game.
Find out what the experts think
Regardless of how much you know about the NFL, it is still extremely useful to read expert views before betting on Baltimore Ravens NFL games. NFL experts work inside the league and will have access to inside information that is not available anywhere else.
Which players are carrying injuries? Will the Ravens make any personnel changes? Which strategies will they deploy? These are the sort of questions and information NFL experts use that will help you find winning bets.
Also, make sure you check out the Ravens news pages in the days leading up to a game. This will help ensure you are on top of any injury development and key suspensions. It can also enable you to get an idea of the likely weather conditions— something that could be very important when looking at markets such as first touchdown scorer.
Set a budget
Lastly, but most importantly, make sure you only use stakes you can afford to lose. Set yourself a budget and always stick to it. We highly recommend that you use the safer gambling controls provided by online betting operators.
These controls allow you to set limits on the amount of money you can wager in specified time periods — perfect for ensuring you stick to your budget and do not rack up any problematic losses.
In most cases, you should be able to access the safer gambling controls via your personal account section on operator websites, but if in any doubt, contact customer services.
Tips
The bottom line is that NFL Ravens betting is no easy task. But by thoroughly doing your research and following our expert advice, it is possible to make some excellent returns.
The fundamental key to NFL betting is to separate your gambling from your love of the Ravens. That means always looking for the value bets and never letting your heart override your head.
Make sure you always stay in complete control of your gambling. Set your gambling controls before you place your first bet with an operator. This will help to ensure that you stick to your budget and do not lose more than you can afford. Along the same lines, always check that an operator is fully licensed before signing up. If in any doubt, check out our expert guides, as this is an issue that we always cover.
NFL Ravens betting —Our final verdict
Remember that the more research you do, the more likely you are to find value in the betting markets, regardless of whether it is for or against the Ravens. So take the time to pore over the statistical information available to you.
Pay especially close attention to areas such as third down efficiency, average points per game and quarterback ratings. These stats can reveal key facts that will lead you to find value in the betting markets.The bottom line is that betting on the Ravens needs to be a fun and enjoyable experience. Good luck!
