The Baltimore Ravens travel to Cincinnati to take on the Bengals, Sunday Jan 1st, as both teams play for playoff positioning. The Ravens will win the AFC North by defeating Cincinnati on the road this week, and it will also give them a first-round bye and a home playoff game. The Bengals win and they clinch a playoff spot, which would mean three AFC North teams are in the dance. NFL oddsmakers have the Ravens as -1.5 point road favorites over the Bengals with the over/under set at 39.5 points. Be sure to get the latest Baltimore Ravens vs Cincinnati Bengals Spreads before making your 2011 NFL Predictions Week 17.
Baltimore (11-4, 3-4 V) beat the Cleveland Browns 20-14 on Saturday to move one step closer to winning the AFC North. RB Ray Rice ran for 87 yards and caught a TD pass for the Ravens, who led 17-0 at halftime and held on against the bumbling Browns. Baltimore completed its first unbeaten season at home (8-0).
Baltimore’s once-stout run defense has been sagging the last two weeks, but Cedric Benson is struggling. Baltimore’s tight ends must overcome the loss of Anquan Boldin. Joe Flacco hit several explosive plays downfield in the first meeting, but in three career games at Paul Brown Stadium he has just a 58 passer rating, with three touchdowns and six interceptions, completing just 54 percent of his passes. All four of Baltimore’s losses have come on the road. Baltimore has finished strong lately as it’s won the past five season finales. “We have had a lot of games where we have to go win in order to really put us where we want to be, and it’s just another one of those,” quarterback Joe Flacco said. “It’s going to be against a good team, a division opponent, a team that’s fighting for the playoffs themselves. We’re going to have go in there and play a really good game to get a win.”
Cincinnati (9-6, 4-3 H) got a 23-16 home victory, in Week 16, that kept the Bengals in playoff contention. QB Andy Dalton threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Jermaine Gresham and a 19-yarder to Jerome Simpson, who did a somersault over a defender and landed on both feet in the end zone. Dalton joined Peyton Manning (26), Charlie Conerly (22) and Dan Marino (20) as the only NFL rookies to throw 20 touchdowns.
Cincinnati hasn’t been as fortunate in recent games against AFC teams as it’s dropped four of five with two losses to Pittsburgh, one to Houston and one in Baltimore on Nov. 20. Three of those games were decided by seven or fewer points, including the 31-24 defeat to the Ravens. The Bengals couldn’t complete their rally from a 17-point deficit, reaching Baltimore’s 7-yard line with 50 seconds left. The Ravens forced three consecutive incompletions and got the benefit of an intentional grounding penalty before Pernell McPhee’s sack sealed the win. They also intercepted rookie Andy Dalton a season-high three times and turned two of those into touchdowns. Dalton still managed to throw for a career-best 373 yards on a defense ranked fourth against the pass (193.9 ypg).
Recent Trends to Consider:
Under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.
Ravens are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 meetings in Cincinnati.
Ravens are 0-4-1 ATS in their last 5 meetings.
Underdog is 4-0-1 ATS in their last 5 meetings.
Ravens are 4-0-1 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
Ravens are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as a favorite of 0.5-3.0.
Ravens are 3-1-1 ATS in their last 5 vs. AFC North.
Bengals are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games as a home underdog of 0.5-3.0.
Bengals are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS win.
Bengals are 0-4-1 ATS in their last 5 vs. AFC.
Bengals are 0-3-1 ATS in their last 4 vs. AFC North.
Baltimore Ravens vs Cincinnati Bengals
When: Sunday, Jan 1st, 2011 4:15 PM EST
Pick: Ravens -1.5
Point-Spreads recommends you check the Ravens vs Bengals Spreads before the game kicks-off.
The Bottom Line: The Ravens must stop the Bengals pass game, which they should do. Flacco must be at his best. NFL Point Spreads Expert Tyler Morgan went 4-1 ATS in Week 16, winning on underdogs Buffalo vs Denver to bring his NFL Predictions record to 73-39-4 for the season. Morgan, whose 2011 NFL Picks are hitting at 65% against the spread. Tyler’s moves have put thousands of dollars into his clients hands week after week. The good news for NFL Football bettors is – TYLER MORGAN’S PICKS ARE FREE – unlike most self proclaimed experts who charge big bucks to subscribers. Put a few Morgan Silver Dollars in your bank account by getting Tyler’s winning plays for FREE. Feel free to sign up to get NFL Picks Free!
