NFL Week 1 Predictions: Cincinnati Bengals vs. Baltimore Ravens

Cincinnati Bengals vs. Baltimore Ravens
Sunday, 9/4/14, 1:00 PM EST
Opening Point Spread: Baltimore -2.5
Current Betting Line: Baltimore -1.5
Opening Total: 43
Current Total: 42.5
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

The Baltimore Ravens went 4-0 during the 2014 preseason

Cincinnati is enjoying one of its most successful stretches in franchise history, but it has also dropped four consecutive road games against Baltimore, which is important to consider when making your NFL predictions. The Bengals need quarterback Andy Dalton to come up with a major performance, but he’s lost all three of his road games in this series—throwing three touchdowns and seven interceptions. Cincinnati is 4-2 SU and 4-1-1 ATS as road underdogs of three or fewer points the last two-plus seasons.

The Bengals need to create some turnovers in hopes of pulling off a slight upset, as they rank third in the league with a plus-40 differential since 2003. Cincinnati head coach Marvin Lewis is 4-7 in season openers, including a 3-5 mark on the road, which can’t be ignored when looking over the NFL betting lines. Dalton will try to target wide receiver A.J. Green in the passing game, as he has 21 catches for 334 yards and two touchdowns in five career games in this rivalry.

Baltimore missed the playoffs for the first time under head coach John Harbaugh in 2013, as the squad finished with an 8-8 record after winning the Super Bowl the previous year. The Ravens figure to be better offensively this season with the offseason hiring of former Houston Texans head coach Gary Kubiak, but they’ll be playing without the services of running back Ray Rice due to a league suspension. The team averaged a league-high 171 rushing yards en route to a perfect 4-0 record during the preseason. Baltimore is 16-3 SU and 9-9-1 ATS as favorites since 2012.

The Ravens open the season with three-straight AFC North clashes, but they’ll be in good hands with quarterback Joe Flacco, who has never missed a game in his career. Baltimore has also won 14 consecutive games at home in the month of September—a streak that dates back to the 2006 campaign. The franchise has also compiled a 39-9 record at M&T Bank Stadium since 2008.