Following a most somber week, the 11-4 Bengals and 10-6 Ravens hook up for what could be a very important AFC North grudge match or a meaningless one Sunday afternoon in Cincinnati. Both teams already clinched playoff berths but a significant degree of uncertainty surrounds this game because of what happened Monday night. Still, we expect both teams to play for keeps. The Bengals are favored by a touchdown over Baltimore, which is expected to once again play without star quarterback Lamar Jackson. How are we playing this game for our free NFL betting pick?
NFL Betting Lines
The Week 18 NFL betting odds opened Cincinnati as a 6.5-point home favorite for Sunday, with an over/under of right around 42. Early betting action then bumped the Bengals to -7 and now to -9 and the total down to 39.5
Ravens Betting Preview
Baltimore, playing a bunch of tough, close, low-scoring games without QB Jackson recently, lost a tough one last Sunday night at home to Pittsburgh 16-13. The Ravens gave up the first three points of the game, battled back to lead 10-3 at the half, then scored the first three points of the second half to go up 13-3. But Baltimore went dry from there, gave up the last 13 points of the game, the last seven on a Steelers touchdown with just under a minute to go, and lost. The Ravens got out-gained by Pittsburgh 351-240, gave up 198 yards on the ground, and lost time of possession by a 34:26 split. Baltimore’s now been out-gained by three of its last four opponents, and it’s averaging just 12 points per game its last five times out. The Ravens are also now 2-2 both SU and ATS since Jackson got hurt, and it doesn’t look like he’ll play Sunday, either.
Bengals Betting Preview
Cincinnati, meanwhile, owns a seven-game winning streak following a 22-18 victory at New England two weeks ago. The Bengals then, as we all know, had their big game Monday night against Buffalo postponed, perhaps canceled. And that’s where the uncertainty about this game originates. If Cincinnati’s game with the Bills isn’t completed, the Bengals are the division champs, and Baltimore is a wild card. And there’s a very good chance these teams would meet again right away in a wild-card game also in Cincinnati. Through it all, our guess is both these teams play to win Sunday. Cincinnati out-gained the Patriots two weeks ago 442-285 and dominated time of possession by a 37:23 split. So the Bengals have out-gained six of their last seven opponents and out-rushed four of their last five foes. They’re also 7-0 ATS their last seven times out.
Ravens-Bengals Recent History
Baltimore is 6-2 SU over the last eight meetings between these divisional rivals but only 3-5 ATS. Back in October, the Ravens won the first meeting between these teams this season 19-17 on – what else? – a Tucker field goal at the buzzer, but Cincinnati covered as a three-point dog. Jackson quarterbacked Baltimore that day, but neither team did a whole lot offensively, combining for just over 600 yards. Maybe that’s why that game played under a total of 48.
- Get more details: Baltimore vs. Ravens 1/8/22 Betting Stats
NFL Betting Trends
Teams that win the game outright in the NFL this season are 202-45 ATS (82 percent).
Totals Report
- The Unders are 12-4 in Ravens games this season, averaging 39 total points.
- The Unders are 9-5 in Bengals games this season, averaging 46 points.
- Through Week 17, the Unders are 144-107 (57 percent) in the NFL this season.
