Both of these teams are coming off seasons in which they perform quite as well as they wanted and enter the 2010 NFL betting lines actions with huge expectations. The Ravens are one of the best all-around teams in the NFL right now and after getting knocked out in the second round of last year’s playoff definitely have some unfinished business.

QB Joe Flacco has grown into a very good QB (3,618 yards, 21 TDs, 12 INTs) and his numbers should be even better this year with the addition of WRs Anquan Boldin and Donte Stallworth. And as the team proved last year its running game has the capacity to run a defense into ground behind third-year stud Ray Rice and bulldozer Le’Ron McClain.

In a strange twist of fate the biggest concern for the Raven’s squad is its once unbeatable defense.

The Giants will be looking to rebound for a disastrous 2009 in which the team finished 8-8 and missed the playoffs. But all expectations are that this team should be in the NFC East playoff hunt right down the final day of the season. The team has a terrific group of young receivers who should only be better after another year of work with QB Eli Manning. Manning is the NFL’s highest paid player and will have to play like it if this team is go deep into the postseason sports betting action.

But the biggest weakness of this squad and a very big one indeed, is the defense which finished only ahead awful St Louis and Detroit squads in points allowed last season (26.7 ppg). But if this unit stays healthy this year and can keep opponents out of the end zone a bit better, it should finish much better than 8-8.

Still, look for the Ravens to win this game as Manning’s playing status is in question and backup Jim Sorgi is wounded.

Kickoff for this Saturday matchup is set for 7:35 Eastern Time and sbg global sportsbook opened with the? as a ? point favorite with an over/under total at ?

Kickoff for this Friday matchup is set for 7:05 Eastern Time and sbg global opened with the Jets as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under total at 34.5. But it’s not just the betting NFL preseason odds that make this matchup so intriguing. It’s the teams themselves.

The Redskins are also looking to get the Super Bowl and for the first time since Mark Rypien was as the helm people are actually looking at this team as a serious contender. After trading for pro bowl QB Donovan McNabb this team has a quality player under center for the first time in decades and plenty of talent on both sides of the ball.

But there are also plenty of question marks for both teams. For the Jets the most worrisome element is its QB. Second-year man Mark Sanchez has been anything but consistent in his brief NFL career and his preseason performance has done little to inspire confidence. Fortunately the Jets have a terrific O-line and running game and there should be minimal pressure on Sanchez to do more than simply manage the offense. Still, if you’re a Jets fan you’d like to see some sort of development in this third preseason game.

These are two of the most talked about teams in sports betting and both have underdone plenty of changes in the offseason. The Jets for one have brought in several key pieces (WR Antonio Holmes, CB Antoine Rolle, DE Jason Taylor) which they believe will get them over the hump an into the Super Bowl. And they just might, as the Jets came within a game of getting to the big dance last year.

For the Skins, there are all kinds of worries surrounding the super talented and super egotistical DL Albert Haynesworth. He’s been a huge disruption for this team all preseason but he’s also a tremendous talent who can be a game changer. Look for the Jets to win at home in a low scoring affair.

Carolina finished 8-8 straight up last year while going 9-7 against the spread as 10 of their games went under the total.

The respectable finish covers up the fact that Carolina fell flat on its face out of the gate in 2009 as they lost their first three games straight up and failed to cover their first four games against the spread. The Panthers finally cut ties with long time quarterback Jake Delhomme after he had a disastrous season that ended up with him losing his job to Matt Moore. It was one of many changes that have been made as Carolina tries to get back on track.

The new look Panthers open the preseason on Thursday at Baltimore against the Ravens. SBG Global.com Sportsbook opened with Baltimore as a 3-point favorite with a total at 34. ESPN will televise the game with an 8:05 Eastern kickoff time.

Moore is now the clear cut starter and does have some weapons starting with running backs Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams, who became the first tandem in NFL history to each run for over 1100 yards.

“I just try and be myself,” said Moore, who had 8 touchdown passes last year with just 2 interceptions. “I think that is the approach I always try to take.”

Head coach John Fox likes the progression he has seen from Moore.

“I think it’s kind of a natural progression,” Fox said. “All of a sudden you’re the starting quarterback, and with that the come responsibility. He’s got those abilities. He has those intangibles.”

Carolina’s defense was a mixed bag last year as it finished 8th overall for total yards allowed and 9th for points permitted. The pass defense was strong as it ranked 4th in the NFL but the rush defense was weak as it was 22nd for in the league for yards permitted and that caused the Panthers to remake the front wall as 3 starters are gone, including star Julius Peppers.

Fox is on the final year of his contract as well as the hot seat after the steep drop last year from 2008 when the Panthers were the top seed in the NFC. That makes the rebuilding season of 2010 more of a high stakes gamble as Fox won’t survive another year that ends without the playoffs.