Lamar Jackson's Injury Shifts Super Bowl and NFL MVP Odds, Ravens Become Week 5 Underdog to Texans

Things just went from bad to much, much worse for the Baltimore Ravens.

Already 1-3 and shockingly third in the AFC North, the Ravens could now be without QB Lamar Jackson for 2-3 weeks due to a hamstring injury, according to Brian Wacker of The Baltimore Sun.

The Ravens' Super Bowl odds and Jackson's NFL MVP odds lengthened accordingly, and the Ravens have flipped from an opening 9.5-point betting favorite against the Houston Texans in Week 5 to being a 2.5-point underdog at home following the report.

Here is how the betting markets have moved, and how I'd look to bet them with Jackson possibly out for 2-3 weeks.

Texans vs. Ravens odds, Week 5

The Ravens opened as a 9.5-point betting favorite at home to the Texans by the NFL odds for Week 5. That line first fell to 7.5 points on Monday morning following Baltimore's loss to the Kansas City Chiefs and the Texans' win over the Tennessee Titans in Week 4.

The betting line had dropped to 3.5 points (still in favor of the Ravens) by Tuesday morning. If fully flipped Tuesday afternoon to now list the Texans as a 2.5-point road favorite at ESPN BET.

It should be noted that Jackson hasn't yet been officially ruled out for Week 5 and is reported as "likely" to miss Sunday's game. Take a chance on Ravens +2.5 if you believe Jackson will ultimately suit up, or backup Cooper Rush can keep the Ravens in the game.

Lamar Jackson NFL MVP odds

Jackson's MVP odds lengthened from +1000 on Tuesday morning to as high as +1400 via DraftKings by the afternoon. His NFL Offensive Player of the Year odds also rose considerably.

However, even if Jackson weren't at risk of missing any time, I wouldn't be interested in an NFL MVP bet. The Ravens are just 1-3 with him under center, and he already has head-to-head losses against Josh Allen (Buffalo Bills) and Patrick Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs) - his primary competitors in this market annually.

Ravens Super Bowl odds

The Ravens' Super Bowl odds are now as long as +1300 via BetMGM following the report of Jackson's injury. Those are up significantly from +800 on Sunday night, after the Ravens had already dropped to 1-3.

This is a better bet than Jackson to win the MVP. While Jackson could miss up to three games, all three of those will be at home, against the Texans, Los Angeles Rams, and Chicago Bears. The Ravens have their bye between the second and third game. It's possible Baltimore could win at least two of those, even with Rush at the helm of the offense.

Jackson's potential return (in the worst-case scenario) would be on the road against the Miami Dolphins on Thursday, Oct. 30. That date starts a very favorable schedule stretch for Baltimore with games against the Minnesota Vikings (road), Cleveland Browns (road), New York Jets (home), Cincinnati Bengals (home), Pittsburgh Steelers (home), Bengals again (road), and New England Patriots (home).

If the Ravens can win even one of the possible three games Jackson were to miss, he would return at full health with the Ravens at just five losses and with a realistic shot at eight straight wins before a Week 17 road game in Green Bay.

Ravens schedule

• Week 5: vs. Texans
• Week 6: vs. Rams
• Week 7: BYE
• Week 8: vs. Bears
• Week 9: at Dolphins
• Week 10: at Vikings
• Week 11: at Browns
• Week 12: vs. Jets
• Week 13: vs. Bengals
• Week 14: vs. Steelers
• Week 15: at Bengals
• Week 16: vs. Patriots
• Week 17: at Packers
• Week 18: at Steelers