Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens, M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, MD
Sunday, January 2, 2011, 1:00 pm EST, TV: CBS
Opening Line: Ravens -9.5
Current Line: Ravens -9.5
Opening Total: 43.5
Current Total: 43
Money Line: Ravens -480 / Bengals +380
The Baltimore Ravens (11-4) still have a chance to win the AFC North title and the #2 seed in the playoffs, but they will not be able to accomplish that feat just be beating the Cincinnati Bengals (4-11) on Sunday. The Ravens (-9.5) must win and have Pittsburgh lose at Cleveland to capture the division because they have a worse record in the AFC North at 3-2.
One of those two divisional losses for Baltimore came in Week 2 at Cincinnati as the Bengals pulled off a 15-10 victory. The Ravens were coming off an emotional 10-9 win over the New York Jets in the season opener and could fall down to the #5 seed regardless of whether they win or lose if the Steelers win against the Browns.
Cincinnati went a perfect 6-0 in the division last year en route to the AFC North title but lost consecutive games to New York – once in the regular-season finale and the other in the opening round of the playoffs – and it has seemingly been all downhill from there. The Bengals have never recovered from losing to the Jets despite adding controversial wide receiver Terrell Owens in the offseason to make another potential run at the playoffs.
Ironically, the team turned in arguably its best performance of the season without Owens and fellow receiver Chad Ochocinco in a 34-20 win over San Diego last week. Cincy knocked the Chargers out of the playoff race behind an efficient passing performance from quarterback Carson Palmer and a solid rushing attack led by running backs Cedric Benson and Bernard Scott.
Palmer completed 16 of 21 passes for 269 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions, none of which obviously went to Owens or Ochocinco. Instead, third-year wide receiver Jerome Simpson made six catches for 124 yards and scored twice. Meanwhile, Benson and Scott combined to carry the ball 35 times for 102 yards with another touchdown. Kicker Clint Stitser missed an extra point for the only real offensive failure of the day.
Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco hopes to bounce back from his worst game of the season in the first meeting with the Bengals, throwing for 154 yards and four interceptions. Flacco also did not do much in a 20-10 win at Cleveland last week, throwing for 102 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. He had thrown only one pick in his previous five games combined.
Still, the Ravens have won their last three games both straight-up and against the spread since losing 13-10 at home to Pittsburgh, which is their only setback at M&T Bank Stadium this year. They are 3-4 ATS at home this season with the UNDER cashing in three of the last four games there. Cincinnati has covered the last three meetings with the UNDER going 3-0.
Now that you have read this football betting preview featuring the Ravens & Bengals, check out the NFL odds on this and all the games to compare the best lines at multiple sportsbooks.
