Bengals Ravens Betting – Bengals Set For Second Clash Against AFC North Powerhouse In As Many Weeks

When the Cincinnati Bengals opened their season with a 6-3 record and in contention for the AFC North title, there weren’t many that didn’t point out the fact that they had yet to play any of their four games against the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens. After a close loss ot the Steelers last week, the Bengals won’t have to wait long to get another chance to prove they belong in the division race as they travel to take on the Baltimore Ravens this sports betting Sunday.

Cincinnati Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens

While winning inside the division is crucial to a team’s playoff chances, they also have to win outside of the division as well. The Ravens beat the Steelers twice this season and then followed those victories with tough losses in games they were expected to win.

Bengals Ravens Betting Preview: Cincinnati Bengals

Five straight wins against inferior opponents put the Bengals on the map in the AFC North, and while their last two victories have come against teams that the Ravens have lost to, that won’t mean much unless Cincinnati is able to take down Baltimore this weekend. The Bengals did an excellent job of keeping pace with Pittsburgh last week, but rookie Andy Dalton made a couple of costly mistakes and the team eventually paid. The young quarterback will have learned his lesson last week and it should help his performance going forward, as the Bengals could give him even more responsibility this week. The Ravens’ offense has been very streaky, and if Cincinnati can get some pressure on quarterback Joe Flacco they could force him in to mistakes.

Bengals Ravens Betting Preview: Baltimore Ravens

While the Ravens have been excellent in wins over the New York Jets, Houston Texans, and Pittsburgh Steelers at the top of the AFC table, they have also struggled in losses to the Jacksonville Jaguars, and Seattle Seahawks, neither of which have more than three wins. Part of the problem could be an emotional letdown following big wins, and Baltimore will need to play with more urgency this week to avoid losing consecutive games for the first time this season. The Ravens registered just 75 rushing yards on the ground despite an average of 6.3 per carry, so it shouldn’t be a surprise if they go back to their run even more this online sportsbook week.

Bengals Ravens Betting Preview: Outlook & Pick

For as bad as the Ravens have looked in their losses, this game doesn’t fit the criteria for another as Baltimore is not coming off of an emotional win and not playing an inferior opponent from outside of the division. The Bengals have done an excellent job of winning the games that they are expected to win this season, but this isn’t one of them. Look for Cincinnati to keep it close until the end but eventually come up just short.