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NFL Odds: Cincinnati Bengals vs Baltimore Ravens

Written November 5, 2009 by Rock Henderson

The Baltimore Ravens snapped a three game losing streak against the previously unbeaten Denver Broncos and righted the ship for the time being. They will look to avenge a loss earlier this season to the Cincinnati Bengals and put themselves back in the picture for a division title. The Bengals will come into this match-up fully rested as they have had two weeks to prepare for the physicality that Baltimore brings to the table. According to our current NFL betting lines, Cincinnati is getting a field goal at home with a total set at 43.5 points.

Sitting at 4-3, the Ravens cannot afford to fall two games behind the Bengals in the race for the division title. Second year QB Joe Flacco has taken his game to another level this season. He has passed for 1849 yards and 12 touchdowns while throwing five picks. Last year he was used predominantly to manage the game and play action pass off one of the stronger running games in the NFL, but this season Flacco is actually showing why Baltimore drafted him in the first round two years ago. The emergence of running back Ray Rice has also benefited the Ravens offense. The former Rutgers star has taken over the starting position and ran for 525 yards with four touchdowns. Rice also leads the team in receptions with 38 and has accumulated 349 yards through the passing game. Their 28.4 ppg ranks 4th in the NFL and defensively are giving up 19 per game, which is just outside of the top 10. It is rare for Baltimore’s D to be ranked beyond the top five ranked units in the league, but they have been susceptible to big plays in the passing game and seem to be missing former defensive coordinator Rex Ryan more than anticipated. Get a $20 free play that you can use to bet the NFL when you open a new account with Sportsbook.com.

Head coach Marvin Lewis has quickly turned around one of the worst teams in the league last year. Off to a 5-2 start, much of the success can be attributed to the return of QB Carson Palmer and the breakout year that former first round bust Cedric Benson is having running the ball. Benson has been an absolute workhorse for the Bengals, carrying the ball 164 times for 720 yards and five scores. It wouldn’t take much to upgrade the passing attack from last year’s team, but Carson Palmer hasn’t missed a beat after missing much of the 2008 season with an injury. The former USC Trojan has thrown for 1608 yards and 13 touchdowns against seven interceptions. His favorite target once again is the interesting one Chad Ochocinco. Ocho has stepped aside from the attention getting antics and is focused squarely on winning games. The play making wide receiver has caught 39 balls for 573 yards and has gotten the chance to celebrate in his own little way five times. Cincy’s defense is much improved, ranking 6th in the league in points allowed at just over 18 per game. They lost their best pass rusher, DE Antwan Odom, to a season ending injury which was a huge blow.

This is a intriguing match-up as the line is set perfectly to get two way action. On one hand, the Ravens played their best four quarters of the season against Denver and know they cannot afford to drop both games to the Bengals. Cincinnati took every punch Baltimore threw their way in the first match-up and pulled out the game with a dominating fourth quarter. Disregard the Ravens being on the road, they will be hungry for revenge. Play: Ravens -3

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