Pro Football Week 8 Picks: Baltimore Ravens vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Baltimore Ravens vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Sunday, 10/26/14, 1:00 PM EST
Opening Point Spread: Cincinnati -2.5
Current Betting Line: Cincinnati PK
Opening Total: 46
Current Total: 45.5
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

The Cincinnati Bengals aren't the same team without star WR A.J. Green — The Cincinnati Bengals aren’t the same team without star WR A.J. Green

Baltimore has won and covered the number in its last two contests, including a 29-7 victory over the Atlanta Falcons as seven-point home favorites Sunday, while capturing the statistical battle by a triple-digit margin in each of those affairs. The Ravens are outscoring opponents by a league-best 89 points, which can’t be ignored when making your pro football picks, especially since 53 of that margin is represented during their current win streak. Baltimore is 1-4 SU and 2-3 ATS as road underdogs of three or fewer points the last two-plus seasons, with no clear edge in terms of the betting total (2-2-1 Over/Under).

The Ravens need to be able to run the football in this AFC North showdown, which is important to consider when looking over the pro football odds page, as signal-caller Joe Flacco tied a career high by attempting 62 pass attempts in a 23-16 setback as one-point home favorites in the first meeting between these rivals in 2014. Justin Forsett has done a fine job in replacement of the suspended Ray Rice—gaining 206 rushing yards over the last two weeks of action.

Cincinnati has simply fallen apart since returning from its bye week, as its gone 0-2-1 SU and 0-3 ATS, which includes a 27-0 shutout loss to the Indianapolis Colts as three-point road underdogs last time out. The Bengals have been outscored by a significant 107-54 margin over their recent spell, with many NFL experts pointing out that the offense has lost its ability to go downfield without the services of star wide receiver A.J. Green, who has missed action with turf toe. Cincinnati is 10-10 SU and 10-9-1 ATS when the betting line is between +3 and -3 since 2012, with the UNDER going 12-7-1 in that situation.

The Bengals would love to have Green available for quarterback Andy Dalton, as the former Georgia Bulldogs star has 343 receiving yards and three touchdowns in his last three games in this series. Cincinnati has limited to a season-low 32 yards rushing in last week’s embarrassing loss, but running back Giovani Bernard is capable of bouncing back with a great all-purpose game.