Ravens Longshot To Repeat

Everyone knows it's tough to repeat as Super Bowl Champions, and the odds are stacked against NFL teams due to the level playing field created by the salary cap and free agency.

Both reasons seem to be proof positive that the Baltimore Ravens are now considered longshots to get back and win the Lombardi Trophy in the 2013-14 season.

In fact, they are only tied for ninth choice to win Super Bowl XLVIII, according to the gambling site, Bovada.lv. At 20-1 odds, Baltimore is tied with the New York Giants and Pittsburgh Steelers, with eight other teams ahead of them in the race to hoist the Lombardi Trophy at the New Meadowlands in New Jersey next February.

The Denver Broncos and San Francisco 49ers are co-favorites (7-1) to meet in the Big Game, with the New England Patriots still considered an annual favorite to get there (15-2). Next up are the Seattle Seahawks (10-1), Atlanta Falcons and Green Bay Packers (both 12-1), followed by the Houston Texans and New Orleans Saints (both 16-1).

Only a little more than a month ago, a few days after their 34-31 Super Bowl victory, Baltimore was only the 5th choice to win, at 12-1 odds, as noted in an earlier Baltimore Beatdown story. The player personnel losses over the past week has dropped the Ravens lower but that shouldn't scare too many who probably remember that the Ravens were far from the favorites to win Super Bowl 47 either.

“A week ago the Super Bowl champs were sitting comfortably at 14-1 to repeat which was in the top 5, now find themselves at 20-1 and may even drift some more if they keep dumping players without acquiring any significant replacements for them. The Miami Dolphins, who can possibly compete in the AFC East, have been my biggest move dropping from 60-1 to 35-1 and in turn the Jets have jumped up to 60-1. The Seahawks getting Harvin has moved them slightly from 12-1 to 10-1, but am still holding the 49ers as co-Super Bowl favorites alongside the Broncos at 7-1.”

Kevin Bradley, Sports Book Manager, bovada.lv

Odds to win the 2014 Super Bowl XLVIII

Denver Broncos 7/1

San Francisco 49ers 7/1

New England Patriots 15/2

Seattle Seahawks 10/1

Atlanta Falcons 12/1

Green Bay Packers 12/1

Houston Texans 16/1

New Orleans Saints 16/1

Baltimore Ravens 20/1

New York Giants 20/1

Pittsburgh Steelers 20/1

Chicago Bears 25/1

Dallas Cowboys 25/1

Washington Redskins 25/1

Philadelphia Eagles 30/1

Cincinnati Bengals 35/1

Detroit Lions 35/1

Indianapolis Colts 35/1

Miami Dolphins 35/1

San Diego Chargers 40/1

Kansas City Chiefs 45/1

Carolina Panthers 50/1

Minnesota Vikings 50/1

New York Jets 60/1

St. Louis Rams 60/1

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 60/1

Cleveland Browns 75/1

Arizona Cardinals 100/1

Buffalo Bills 100/1

Oakland Raiders 100/1

Tennessee Titans 100/1

Jacksonville Jaguars 150/1