After a brilliant regular season the aging Baltimore Ravens were trampled by the Indianapolis Colts in the Playoffs. With the bad taste left in their mouth the Ravens are hungry to reach the postseason again and get a crack at the Superbowl. The Baltimore Ravens are an aging team so the players understand that the time to win is now. Bodog.com has the Baltimore Ravens at 18 to 1 betting odds to win the 2008 Super Bowl XLII.
Head Coach Brian Billick took over play calling duties 9 games into last season and the offensive production improved dramatically. The Ravens like to employ a balanced attack on offense but will throw more this year with versatile new RB Willis McGahee catching passes out of the backfield. QB Steve McNair showed the naysayers in Tennessee that he still has plenty left in the tank by having an excellent season. McNair isn’t as fast as he once was, however he might be better now than ever. If McNair stays healthy this offense can be dangerous. RB Willis McGahee has great speed, power and moves that are rare. Look for McGahee to bounce back from an off year and post huge numbers. The O-Line is a good unit that is lead by monster OT Jonathan Ogden. Wideouts Mark Clayton and Derrick Mason are solid players that have reliable hands. TE Todd Heap moves the chains as one of the best pass-catching ends in the NFL.
As usual, the Baltimore Ravens Defense is brutal. Baltimore blitzes about 75% of the time out of the 3-4 or 4-3. Team leader MLB Ray Lewis still plays at an elite level with a white hot fire in his belly. Lewis is surrounded by young bloodthirsty talent at the linebacker position. OLB Terell Suggs might record 15 or more sacks this season. The D-Line is a force, with a hole-digger in DE Haloti Ngata. On the other side DE Trevor Price is a pass-rushing fiend with super long arms that helped him accumulate 13 sacks last season. The Secondary is loaded with skill. S Ed Reed is flat out one of the best defensive players in the game. Reed has super-natural ball skills making plays everywhere. CB Chris McAlister is a big corner that usually can shutdown team’s best receivers. The Special Teams have a reliable leg in Kicker Matt Stover who is Mr. Clutch. The Ravens coverage units are dynamic.
The Ravens have all the elements to make a run at the Superbowl but must stay healthy.
Brad Marchetti Opening Day Baltimore Ravens Power Ratings: 20-80 Scale
20- Poor
30- Well Below Average
40- Below Average
50- Average
60- Above Average
70- Very Good
80- Great
Quarterback : 65
Backs : 70
Receivers : 65
Offensive Line : 60
Defensive Line : 70
Linebackers : 80
Secondary : 70
Special Teams : 70
Coaching: 70
Bodog.com has posted NFL betting odds to win the 2008 Super Bowl XLII:
Arizona Cardinals 40/1
Atlanta Falcons 60/1
Baltimore Ravens 18/1
Buffalo Bills 100/1
Carolina Panthers 25/1
Chicago Bears 15/1
Cincinnati Bengals 15/1
Cleveland Browns 125/1
Dallas Cowboys 20/1
Denver Broncos 20/1
Detroit Lions 70/1
Green Bay Packers 38/1
Houston Texans 100/1
Indianapolis Colts 15/2
Jacksonville Jaguars 30/1
Kansas City Chiefs 50/1
Miami Dolphins 55/1
Minnesota Vikings 50/1
New England Patriots 8/5
New Orleans Saints 14/1
New York Giants 30/1
New York Jets 38/1
Oakland Raiders 70/1
Philadelphia Eagles 18/1
Pittsburgh Steelers 25/1
San Diego Chargers 6/1
San Francisco 49ers 15/1
Seattle Seahawks 18/1
St.Louis Rams 40/1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 45/1
Tennessee Titans 50/1
Washington Redskins 40/1
