AFC North Pick: Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals
Baltimore Ravens (1-1 SU, 1-1 ATS) at Cincinnati Bengals (0-1, 0-1), 9/17/23
When: 1 pm ET Sunday, Sept. 17
Where: Paul Brown Stadium
TV: CBS
NFL Betting odds: Balt +3.5/Cin -3.5 (Bet it free with a 100% bonus using code PREDICTEM at Betnow Sportsbook!)
Money line: Balt +165/Cin -195
Total: 46
The Bengals and Ravens played three times last season and meet for the first of at least two times season Sunday afternoon in Cincinnati. Baltimore opened its new season with a ho-hum home win over Houston, while the Bengals opened by getting “elfed” by the Browns in Cleveland.
How are we playing this game with our free NFL betting pick?
NFL Betting Lines
The Week 2 NFL betting market opened Cincinnati at -3.5 over Baltimore, with an over/under of right around 46. Both figures were holding steady into mid-week.
Ravens Betting Preview
Baltimore opened its season last week with a somewhat subdued 25-9 victory over Houston. The Ravens, with Lamar Jackson back at quarterback, took an early 7-0 lead but only led 7-6 at the half. Baltimore then scored touchdowns on its first two possessions of the second half and eased home from there for the win and the cover as a nine-point favorite.
The Ravens actually got out-gained by the Texans 268-265 and lost the turnover battle 2-1. But the Baltimore defense kept Houston out of the end zone all day long.
On the injury front, the Ravens lost RB Dobbins for the season to a torn Achilles last Sunday, and two starting offensive linemen, among others, are listed as questionable for this Sunday.
Bengals Betting Preview
Cincinnati, meanwhile, is looking to bounce back this week after laying an egg last week at Cleveland 24-3. The Bengals got shut out in the first half against the Browns, pulled to within 10-3 early in the third quarter, but got nothing else from there and whiffed ATS as one-point underdogs.
Cincinnati got out-gained by Cleveland 350-142, out-rushed 206-75, made just six first downs, and lost time of possession 36:24. Quite the flat performance.
QB Joe Burrow missed basically the entire pre-season after straining a calf, and he and that Bengals offense looked miserable Sunday.
We’re wondering if that won’t act like a good slap in the face.
Ravens-Bengals Recent History
Cincinnati owns the edge on rival Baltimore as of late, winning four of the last five meetings SU, including a playoff victory last season, going 3-1-1 ATS. Last year, these teams split two regular-season games before the Bengals beat the Ravens in a wild-card game on a fluke defensive score in the fourth quarter.
However, we should point out Jackson missed both Baltimore losses last season, and one of those was basically meaningless to the Ravens, in Week 18.
NFL Betting Trends
- Baltimore with Jackson at QB is 2-1 SU, but 1-2 ATS vs. Cincinnati with Burrow.
- NFL home teams played just 6-10 SU and 4-12 ATS last week.
- NFL favorites played 8-8 SU and 6-10 ATS last week.
Totals Report
The unders played 12-5 in Ravens games last season, and last week’s game against Houston played under a total of 43.5.
The unders played 9-6-1 in Bengals games last season, and last week’s game against Cleveland, they played under a total of 46.
The unders played 12-4 in the NFL last week.
The overs are 4-1 over the last five meetings between these teams.
Free NFL Betting Pick
Baltimore’s got Jackson back, but it’s already a little banged up elsewhere. Also, the Ravens didn’t exactly blow Houston away last week, and Houston’s not very good. Meanwhile, Burrow missed the entire pre-season, and Cincinnati looked terrible against Cleveland. But maybe he needed a game to get going. Also, the Browns might be a really good team. Also, it might help if the Bengals get Joe Mixon -16 touches for 73 yards last week – the ball more often. We smell a bounce-back effort from Cincinnati here, so we’re giving the points. Bet your Week Two NFL predictions for FREE by scoring a 100% sportsbook bonus!
