Jan 13-
- The Ravens are in Cincinnati to take on the Bengals on Sunday Night Football
- This Wild Card game features the home Bengals as 9-point favorites and the game has a total of 40.5
- Read below to lock in the best NFL betting pick for Wild Card weekend
For the second weekend in a row the Ravens travel to Cincinnati to take on the Bengals. This AFC North matchup will mean a whole lot more this weekend as the playoffs are now underway and every game is a win or go home scenario. Cincinnati, who are defending AFC Champions are looking to go on another run deep into the playoffs, while Baltimore comes into this one as large underdogs in the Ravens vs Bengals odds.
Last week saw some heated moments in which players voiced as “dirty and late” postgame. If this game did not already have enough juice, expect it to be played out as a classic AFC North war, regardless of the Ravens quarterback situation. As we inch closer to game time be sure to stay tuned for any late injury report but as of Friday afternoon, assume Lamar Jackson is out.
Ravens vs Bengals Odds
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
| Baltimore Ravens | +360 | +9 (-110) | O 40.5 (-110) |
| Cincinnati Bengals | -500 | -9 (-110) | U 40.5 (-110) |
Odds courtesy of BetMGM Ohio!
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Baltimore Ravens Betting Outlook
The Ravens are in a tough spot. They have the defense to stay in this game on the road but whether or not Tyler Huntley will be able to put up points is the pivotal question. After resting last week, J.K. Dobbins and Mark Andrews re-enter the Ravens offensive lineup which will go a long way in helping Huntley navigate this matchup. The Ravens path to a win is a low-scoring, defensive matchup in which they control the clock.
An update from Ravens’ QB Lamar Jackson, who is not expected to play Sunday night: pic.twitter.com/OhPLVYnW04
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 13, 2023
This game will need a masterful performance out of the Ravens defense. That starts with Roquan Smith. Roquan Smith is coming off of a week where he secured an $100M dollar contract, first team All-Pro, and AFC Defensive Player of the Month… maybe he has another accomplishment still to come. So, can the Ravens win an ugly game in the 17-16 range? They may not have another choice. Without Jackson, they average 12.1 points per game and have gotten behind in games early, making it impossible to fight back. The bottom line here… the Ravens may need multiple opportune turnovers to help their shorthanded offense and in a playoff rivalry, I guess anything can happen.
Cincinnati Bengals Betting Outlook
The Bengals are greater than touchdown favorites and in my opinion, rightfully so. This Bengals team is going in the direct opposite direction of the Ravens and they seem poised to go on another January run. Joe Burrow has the ability to spread the ball around to a great group of weapons and the team is averaging 26.1 points per game this season. The offense is going to score and if you read above about the Ravens needing to get stops to win this game, they may just be out of luck in this one.
Per @ESPNStatsInfo, home favorites of at least 9 points are 11-0 ATS in wild-card weekend games (in the last 30 seasons).
Current spreads:
Bills -13 (vs. Dolphins)
Bengals -9.5 (vs. Ravens)
49ers -9.5 (vs. Seahawks)— Ben Fawkes (@BFawkes22) January 13, 2023
On the defensive side of the ball, the Bengals allow 106.6 rushing yards per game, which ranks 7th league wide. Knowing the Ravens will have to run the ball in an attempt to control the clock should come as a welcoming development for the Bengals and if they can force Tyler Huntley into third and long scenarios, this game will play out the exact way they need it to bring them to victory.
Ravens vs Bengals Pick and Prediction
A 9-point spread and a 40.5 total is very interesting for a playoff game. With that being said, I think there is a clear path for both the Bengals to cover and the under to cash so for that reason, give me the Ravens and their under 15.5 team total (-110). Simply put, the hill for this Ravens team to climb is massive and even if they do find a way to make this one ugly, that wont involve them scoring 16+ points.
Caesars Sportsbook Ohio app also offering great bonuses for Ravens vs Bengals.
Best Bet: Baltimore Ravens Team Total u15.5 (-110)
