It was a rough NFL Sunday for our best bets, as both Dallas and Seattle failed to cover the spread. The Seahawks loss in OT was especially frustrating and the Titans added insult to injury by only getting us a push in OT as well. It's time to shake it off and get ready for the new slate!
Week 10 of the NFL regular season kicks off with a rivalry from the AFC North. Check out our betting guide for Bengals vs. Ravens below to see our predictions and best bet for Thursday, November 7.
The Ravens were 6-point favorites on the look-ahead line for this Thursday Night Football matchup with the Bengals. That number ticked up to Ravens -6.5 at some spots after Baltimore's dominant win over Denver in Week 9.
The total has seen a whole slew of action so far! Most online sportsbooks opened the number at 48.5 but tons of sharp money on the Over has pushed it all the way up to 53 at some shops. This move is understandable with how well both of these offenses have been playing.
The Bengals have been a bit of a disappointment so far, as they're just 4-5 on the season. That said, Cincy has been better on the road (3-1) than at home (1-4). Even with their losing record, the offense has been one of the best in the NFL in a few important categories.
Thanks to the right arm of Joe Burrow, the Bengals rank 3rd in the league at converting third downs. The former Heisman winner has thrown for 2,244 yards and 20 touchdowns so far in 2024. As expected, Burrow's favorite target has been Ja'Marr Chase (717 receiving yards and 7 TDs).
The main Achilles heel for this Cincy squad has been their lackluster defense. The interesting thing is that some of their metrics are very good (6th in yards per rush allowed / 9th in yards per pass allowed), but they have really struggled in the red zone and in rushing the passer. That said, Trey Hendrickson still leads the NFL in sacks with 11 on the season.
The Ravens have been putting up points like crazy in 2024, as they rank 2nd in points per game and 1st in yards per play. Lamar Jackson continues to be the best dual-threat QB in football, as evidenced by his 20 passing TDs and 505 rushing yards. Newcomer Derrick Henry has already run for 1,052 yards and 11 touchdowns this season.
Baltimore's become quite the offensive juggernaut, mainly because they can beat you with the run or the pass. The Ravens lead the league in both yards per rush (5.9) and yards per pass (9.3). Cincy will have to bring its A-game on defense if they hope to hold Baltimore under 30 points.
The Ravens defense hasn't been as dominant as in years past. They still do a great job of stuffing the run, but their secondary is susceptible to giving up the deep ball. Baltimore ranks just 28th in yards per pass allowed.
I hate fading Baltimore at home, but this point spread is a touch high according to my power ratings. My numbers say this spread should be around Baltimore -5, even with an adjustment for home-field advantage and strength of schedule.
Baltimore has dominated this rivalry in recent seasons, and they've covered 5 times versus Cincinnati against the spread. That being said, two out of the last three meetings were decided by only a field goal. Cincy is a live dog in this spot, so I'll gladly take the +6.5. Good luck!
Prediction: Ravens 28 - Bengals 24