ravens superbow champs?

aal113086 · #1 07-19-2006, 11:14 PM

odds makers dont really seem to be giving the ravens much of a chance.... is there something i'm missing here? mvp qb reuniting with his probowl reciever....jamal lewis bound for a bounceback year and todd heap... not to mention ray lewis edd reed suggs and pryce on the otherside of the ball... they're lookin pretty good to me.... anyone else?

aal113086 · #2 07-20-2006, 12:01 AM

by the way i am not a ravens fan, infact i don't like them as a fan at all

theDetroitKid · #3 07-20-2006, 12:59 AM

I am a fan, and they look amazing

crockpot · #4 07-20-2006, 01:55 AM

[ QUOTE ]
jamal lewis bound for a bounceback year

[/ QUOTE ]

he probably won't be worse than last year, but none of the projections i've seen indicate he'll be a big asset.

not saying this is a bad bet, but lewis is not a good reason to make it.

chev9 · #5 07-20-2006, 08:28 AM

IMO, Jamal Lewis is one of those backs that is almost 100% reliant on having a big kick-ass line in front of him. If their line isn't better than it was last year, I don't see why they would have a running game this coming year.

As for McNair, I don't have any confidence in him ever returning to being a top flight QB.

I still love their defense, but I think they are the 3rd best team in their division and have little chance of getting out of a brutally tough AFC. I don't know what odds they are listed at, but I'd put them about 8th or 9th on my list of AFC teams.

ravensfan · #6 07-20-2006, 09:35 PM

Any guesses how i feel on this one?
Lol... I think that the ravens' best bet is on them to win the super bowl, and at 28.69 (at Pinny) i think there's definitely some value there... They can beat Cincy, b/c in the playoffs a good defence beats a good offence, especially since Balt's DBs are so good. I think that the most important pickup might be their new Nose Tackle Ngati - since he'll keep the blockers off of Ray-Ray, and the ravens shouldn't get worn down physically like the past two years (yes, it's true... they wear themselves down b/c their D is on the field for like 35 minutes a game and their D line hasn't been too stout).

McNair will be huge too - mainly b/c i don't care how old he is, you CAN'T put 9 in the box with a former MVP at QB (especially one with wounded pride and a point to make), the players will have confidence in the huddle, and i think the WRs will all do well this year (Clayton is talented and is now in season 2).

Jamal is risky: i read on ESPN that either he's worn down or just had a bad year... I think that's a great point, he just plays such a physical style, but i think Chester Taylor isn't too big of a dropoff. Still, Jamal must be licking his chops at the idea of 7 in the box again, and the D must be ecstatic at a QB that won't lose the game on them.

I think Baltimore is a great darkhorse, b/c if everything comes together they can be really tough to beat, and if it does, i don't see anyone stopping them (except maybe Indy, or NE).

In terms of talent/ true ability, i'd put them somewhere between 5th-8th in the AFC (behind, in order: Pitts, Denver, Indy, NE, and right there with Cincy, SD, and KC).

Just my opinion....

Oh yeah, don't be surprised if they don't set the world on fire right away - good defensive teams usually take a while to gel, and they're a true smashmouth team that usually comes together in November-December... You might even be able to bet on Indy, Denver and Miami, see them start 7-1, and then sell them off, b/c the collapse will come as sure as Peyton will choke, Jake isn't good enough, and Miami will suck in the cold. KC might be in that group too - their offence might just dominate for a while and then slow down.

aal113086 · #7 07-21-2006, 12:51 PM

if the ravens start off 0-2 which is a decent chance considering their competittion against the eagles and giants should i expect the line to change much?

theDetroitKid · #8 07-21-2006, 04:25 PM

chester taylor is no longer a raven. Mike Anderson from the broncos is the the ravens other back.

aal113086 · #9 07-21-2006, 05:28 PM

i do not know a lot about sports betting... does starting off a season 0-2 guaranteed to affect the line on the team winning the superbowl

ravensfan · #10 07-24-2006, 10:05 PM

omg i suck.
still that helps i think.
i still think their personalities are pretty resilient, as is their style.
They're probably a decent value after 0-2, best value after 0-1, or 1-1ish... In the AFC 0-2 might be hard to overcome. I just find that they'll underwhelm for the first few games, and then turn it on...
But the Ravens do look great, even if they don't have Chester Taylor. [img]/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img]