by Chuck Sommers
Saturday, Jan 07, 2023
Time: 1 p.m. ET
Venue: Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati, OH
Where to watch: CBS
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Bengals -9.5; Bengals -450, Ravens +360; O/U 39.5
FanDuel: Bengals -9.5; Bengals -450, Ravens +350; O/U 39.5
BetMGM: Bengals -9; Bengals -450, Ravens +340; O/U 39.5
Caesars: Bengals -9; Bengals -435, Ravens +335; O/U 39.5
Season record
Ravens: 10-6 (Clinched playoff berth)
Bengals: 11-4 (Clinched AFC North)
We’re coming down the home stretch of the NFL season and there’s still a lot left to get excited for on your TV screen (or your streaming device if you’re like me and watch Sunday Ticket on a Fire Stick. That works, too). Nevertheless, the final few weeks of the regular season are going to be hectic for everyone on the field, but just as much as everyone off it. You’re probably going to need to figure out which plays are the best ones in terms of teams sitting the star players for the playoff advantage, or which teams are going all in for the final playoff push. If you need that extra push, trust that our champion handicappers can get the job done for you. Matt Fargo has a 17-9-0 run over the last 30 days in the NFL. Brian Bitler has continued to stay consistent, despite a wild, unpredictable season, by going 16-9-0. Do you want a piece of this action? Make sure to stay locked to bigal.com and follow our champion handicappers so you can be a champion, too!
Ravens - Bengals preview, analysis and prediction
Last week
Ravens: lost 16-13 vs. Steelers
Bengals: Game vs. Bills canceled
This week is about to be the very most confusing week that we've seen in the National Football League and of course one of those teams involved would happen to be the Cincinnati Bengals. Here's what we know to this point. Cincinnati has won the AFC North. Because of win percentage, the inability to finish the game on Monday Night Football due to the Damar Hamlin situation has given the Bengals the division title.
So when the Bengals play the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, there will not be any game for the division title. But there are still implications in which the Bengals can win the top seed in the AFC or at least the top two spot depending on how this week unfolds. Neither one of these teams have anything to play for. The Bengals are already going to play a home playoff game, while Baltimore is entrenched in a playoff spot with no real means of moving up or down.
This game could ultimately be a sign of both teams resting their starters. And if you're in a situation like me where you're still in a fantasy football championship and Joe Burrow was your starting quarterback you are kind of scared about how things are going to turn out. But nevertheless, the Bengals are 10 point favorites heading into this game against Baltimore largely in part because the status of Lamar Jackson is still up in the air and there is no set understanding to have him back for this game period if the Ravens were smart, they would more than likely bring him back for their playoff game.
The Bengals are still one of the hottest teams in the league having one seven straight games and who knows what would have happened if the game continued on Monday, whether Cincinnati would have made a statement and won that game against the perennial favorites in the AFC, or if they would have been knocked down a peg. But it is wild to think that this game in the matter of 48 hours went into potentially being the Sunday Night Football matchup that Add all the playoff implications in the world to being a one o'clock game that is being available for all to see.
If it comes to the point where the Bengals and Ravens are both resting their starters, I'm not really sure how this game plays out. Week 18 games are the worst to predict because you're never quite certain how it's going to pan out from a betting standpoint because there aren't many games on the docket that you can look at and confidently bet on. This would be one of them.
Prediction
If the Bengals feel that they have a lot to play for and if they feel that there is something to gain from playing this game, there is no doubt in my mind that Cincinnati will be able to pull this one out and win. The fact that Baltimore cannot score to save its life right now has me also thinking that not only with Cincinnati win but they will cover outright. And that is the direction I am leaning. Bengals 27, Ravens 10
Betting trends
Ravens are 17-5 ATS on the road after gaining 150 passing yards or less in 3 straight games since 1992.
Ravens are 21-7 ATS on the road after being outgained by 100 yards or more since 1992.
Bengals are 6-0 ATS in January the last 2 seasons.
Bengals are 6-0 ATS off a road win this season.
Statistical leaders
Ravens:
Passing: Lamar Jackson – 2,242 yards, 17 TD, 7 INT
Rushing: Lamar Jackson – 764 yards, 3 TD
Receiving: Mark Andrews – 847 yards, 5 TD
Defense: Justin Houston – 9 sacks
Bengals:
Passing: Joe Burrow – 4,260 yards, 34 TD, 12 INT
Rushing: Joe Mixon – 767 yards, 6 TD
Receiving: Tee Higgins – 1,022 yards, 7 TD
Defense: Sam Hubbard – 6.5 sacks
Don't miss our champion handicappers' free picks and expert football picks today. And if you enjoyed this Baltimore Ravens - Cincinnati Bengals prediction, be sure to drop by every day for our daily NFL projections and previews.
Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
