Vegas oddsmaker ranks 2-loss team as best in NFL

The undefeated Kansas City Chiefs have won back-to-back championships and are the current Super Bowl betting favorites at all sportsbooks. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes is the MVP betting favorite and widely considered the league’s best player.

The San Francisco 49ers came within a whisker of winning last year’s Super Bowl and are the consensus NFC favorites. Quarterback Brock Purdy ranks second in passing yards, as the team awaits star running back Christian McCaffrey’s return from injury.

The Minnesota Vikings are undefeated at 5-0 and lead the NFL with a +62 point differential. Their coach, Kevin O’Connell, is the favorite to win the Coach of the Year award at nearly even money odds.

However, well-respected veteran Las Vegas oddsmaker Ed Salmons, SuperBook Vice President of Risk and Operations, says the 4-2 Baltimore Ravens would be favored over every single NFL team on a neutral field - if they played this weekend.

“San Francisco is obviously not in the top three right now because they’re so banged up. But in six weeks, they probably will be,” Salmons said. “Baltimore is playing to a really high level. Kansas City has struggled seemingly in every game.”.

The Ravens lost at the Chiefs in the season opener and followed that up with a home loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. However, Baltimore has since won four straight games, including defeats over two division leaders in the Buffalo Bills and Washington Commanders.

“It’s just so fluid. I can give you five or six teams that will interchange because of injuries, travel and things like that,” Salmons said. “If we had this conversation a couple weeks ago, we’d have Buffalo in the top three. Now, the Bills look like they don’t know how to play football.”

The Ravens are currently the third favorite at most sportsbooks with around +700 odds. Reigning MVP Lamar Jackson is among the betting favorites to become a three-time award winner. Plus, running back Derrick Henry leads the NFL in rushing yards and is the betting favorite for Offensive Player of the Year.

Salmons considers Kansas City and the 4-1 Detroit Lions near the top with Baltimore. However, the KC offense has been ravaged with injuries, losing running back Isaiah Pacheco and wide receivers Hollywood Brown and Rashee Rice.

Additionally, Detroit just lost standout defensive lineman Aidan Hustchinson for the season on Sunday with a fractured tibia and fibula. “That’s a big loss for them,” Salmons said.