Hi Vil
"Unravel", in the context you give, below, may be interpreted as "uncontrollably fall apart" i.e "won't unravel" means it would still be a controllable situation.
With respect to "ravel": "unravel" is normally much more commonly used than "ravel".
Hope this helps.
NT
PS It's interesting that Websters actually define "ravel" in terms of "unravel"!
Ravel Noun 1. A row of unravelled stitches; "she got a run in her stocking".
Verb 1. Disentangle; "can you unravel the mystery?" "unravel the ball or yarn".
2. Tangle or complicate; "a ravelled story".