Bengals vs Ravens Predictions: Expect a high-scoring AFC North clash
The second half of the NFL regular season begins with a cracker of a Thursday night game as the Baltimore Ravens host AFC North rivals the Cincinnati Bengals at M&T Bank Stadium.
The first meeting between the teams this season was a thriller as the Ravens won 41-38 in overtime on the road in Week 5, and both teams are hungry for this victory after falling behind the Pittsburgh Steelers in their division. Read on for our Bengals vs Ravens predictions, as well as the latest team news and match odds.
Team News
Bengals tight end Erick All (knee) is set to miss the rest of the season. Offensive tackle Orlando Brown Jr (knee) and wide receiver Tee Higgins are facing a fight to be fit to play, along with wide receiver Charlie Jones (groin) and running back Zack Moss (neck).
Defensive tackle BJ Hill (ribs), safety Jordan Battle (ankle) and running back Chase Brown (ribs) should be available. The Bengals traded for running back Khalil Herbert from the Bears on Tuesday.
Tight end Isaiah Likely (hamstring) and defensive end Brent Urban (concussion) are the main injury worries for the Ravens.
*Please click on the link above to be taken to the main Bengals vs Ravens page on betfred.com (or app) for all the live betting prices on this match.
The Ravens are solid favourites at home at 2/5, with the Bengals on offer at 21/10. The Ravens are asked to give up 5.5 points on the handicap with odds of 20/23, while the Bengals are 20/21 getting a start of 5.5 points.
The total points line for the game has been set at 52.5, with over and under 52.5 each available at 10/11.
Over 52.5 points @ 20/21
The high total points line for this game comes as no surprise given the way both teams have been impressing offensively in recent games but giving up plenty of points on defence.
The first meeting of the year in Ohio generated a whopping total of 79 points and this game could produce three fewer touchdowns and still go comfortably over the line.
The Ravens are 6-3 this season, with their only recent setback being an unexpected 29-24 road loss to the struggling Cleveland Browns in Week 8, but they bounced back from that with a resounding 41-10 home win over the Denver Broncos last week.
John Harbaugh's team have scored 30 or more points in five of their last six games, reaching 40 three times as the combined rushing skills of quarterback Lamar Jackson and running back Derrick Henry are hard for defences to handle. Meanwhile, Zay Flowers and Rashod Batemen have led the way at wide receiver and were this week joined by Diontae Johnson, who arrived in a trade from Carolina.
The Ravens rank only 23rd in the league for points per game allowed, though, and have struggled since defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald left in the off-season to become head coach of the Seattle Seahawks.
The Bengals made their traditional slow start, losing four of their first five games, but have climbed back to 4-5 with three wins in their last four games and put up their highest score of the season in last week's 41-24 home win over the Las Vegas Raiders.
Six of their last nine games have produced over 50 points and they rank 25th of 32 in points per game allowed, giving up 25.2 per outing. With two capable offences and a pair of questionable defences in action, the scoreboard operator should be busy.
Odds correct at time of publishing.
Zay Flowers anytime touchdown scorer @ 13/10
The Ravens strengthened their offensive options with this week's trade for Johnson, but Flowers has been rapidly ascending through the ranks in his second NFL season and has been in sensational form.
Flowers leads the team with 654 receiving yards and has been almost unstoppable over the last month, with tallies of 111, 132, 115 and 127 in four of his last five games.
The wide receiver scored touchdowns of seven yards and 53 yards from Jackson's passes in the second quarter against Denver, and he should be looking forward to meeting the Bengals again after registering 111 receiving yards in the first meeting. With scoring likely to be high again, he is worth backing to reach the end zone.
Odds correct at time of publishing.
Remember to check out our NFL Betting Tips index page where we preview games live on Sky Sports along with a weekly Predictions column.
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