Bengals vs. Ravens Prediction
Injuries are re-shaping the outlook of Sunday’s 1PM ET game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Cincinnati Bengals. How will they factor into the result of the AFC North clash?
Game Snapshot & Odds
455 Cincinnati Bengals at 456 Baltimore Ravens
Sunday, November 18, 2018
1PM ET – M&T Bank Stadium
TV: CBS
Public Betting Trends
According to oddsmakers at BetNow.eu, the Ravens are favored at home currently, as they are getting odds of -4 points against the Bengals. The over/under total is not currently available. The public betting for this game currently is unavailable as well.
Bengals struggling
Cincinnati is coming off a 51-14 thrashing at the hands of the Saints last week for their third loss in four games. The Bengals are now 5-4 overall, 4-5 against the spread and 6-3 with the over. They have failed to cover in four straight games.
The Bengals are struggling on defense this year, giving up 32 points and 464.7 yards per contest. Their pass defense is giving up 323.4 yards per game. Offensively, Cincinnati is putting up 26.1 points and 354.6 yards per game. They could be without their top weapon, as AJ Green is dealing with a toe injury that has him doubtful to play on Sunday. Green has 687 receiving yards and six touchdowns this year. Quarterback Andy Dalton has thrown for 2,255 yards and 18 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Joe Mixon is the leading rusher with 570 yards, but he is also questionable to play on Sunday with a knee injury.
Ravens banged up
The Ravens are coming off a 23-16 loss at home to Pittsburgh two weeks ago and had their bye since. Baltimore has lost three straight games coming into this week. The Ravens are 4-5 overall, 4-5 against the spread and 6-3 with the under. They have failed to cover in their last three as well.
Baltimore is struggling on offense as of late, averaging 23.7 points and 376.2 yards per game for the season. They come into this week with a lot of QB issues as Joe Flacco is questionable to play with a hip injury and rookie backup Lamar Jackson is dealing with a stomach virus that has him questionable to play. If both are unable to go, it would be Robert Griffin III that would get the start. Flacco has thrown for 2,465 yards and 12 touchdowns this year while Jackson has thrown for 87 yards and rushed for 139. John Brown is the team’s leading receiver with 34 catches and 601 yards. Defensively, Baltimore is allowing just 17.8 points and 324.7 yards per game. They have 28 sacks as a unit.
NFL Betting Trends
Cincinnati
The Bengals are 8-2 against the spread in their last 10 conference games and 5-2 ATS in their last seven games following a double-digit loss at home.
Baltimore
The Ravens are 1-4 against the spread in their last five division games and 2-6 ATS in their last eight home games against a team with a winning road record.
Prediction:
The Bengals have been getting beat up, but they have been beat up by good teams. Their three losses over the last four games are to the Saints, Chiefs and Steelers. I would expect the Bengals to be up for this game against a division rival as well. We don’t know what the Ravens will look like with Jackson or RG3 at QB. Jackson certainly has a lot of ability, but we haven’t seen him carve up an NFL defense yet. I think there will be a learning curve for him if he starts and RG3 hasn’t had a great game in years. I will take the Bengals and the points.
NFL Prediction: Cincinnati Bengals +4