Ravens vs Bengals Betting / Handicapping
Oddsmakers pay close attention to two factors when considering numbers:
1. Every game is unique. What happened in the past has little meaning. 2. Which team is more motivated?
Baltimore Ravens (10-5) at Cincinnati Bengals (9-6)
Sunday, Dec. 30
Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati
1 p.m. EST
Spread – Bengals -3 at WagerWeb
O/U – 41
Check Out Ray’s NFL Plays Today!
At least as far as No. 2 goes, the Baltimore Ravens would seem to have a huge edge this Sunday when they take on the Bengals in Cincinnati. The Bengals’ late-season rush (6 wins in the last 7 games) has locked them into the No. 6 playoff seed in the AFC.
The Ravens, though, can grease their playoff skids a bit if they can get by the Bengals. They sit at No. 4 today, but a victory on Sunday (and good fortune elsewhere) could bump them to third – and a meeting with Cincinnati (at Baltimore) on wild-card weekend.
CLICK GRAB OUR BEST Expert NFL Picks for 2012 FOOTBALL GAMBLING season!
If history is any kind of a teacher, the Bengals should go belly button to the wall in this one. As the Cincinnati Enquirer notes, in recent years (2005, 2009) the Bengals have twice in a similar situation – heading into Week 17 and the playoffs with nothing to gain. Both times they rested starters, and both times they were crushed in the playoffs – 37-3 (Chiefs) and 37-0 (Jets).
“I don’t really have any beat-up guys,” noted Cincinnati coach Marvin Lewis when asked about resting his starters against Baltimore. “So, the only thing that is at stake is you go out and play to win the game every time. It’s a different team, different group, different people. Playing different teams, different situations, different circumstances.”
Different.
We get it.
OK, so Cincy’s big guns will play. But will they care enough to go all out against a Ravens team that last week crushed the Giants, ending a three-game losing streak, and once again appears to be smelling blood in the AFC waters? The urge to just get through 60 minutes without any major injuries and be ready for the playoffs is overwhelming.[soliloquy id=”82219″]
Just ask the Patriots, who lost Wes Welker for the playoffs when he tore up a knee in a meaningless Week 17 game against the Texans in 2009.
Free NFL PICK
Motivation wins in this one. Baltimore should win outright, so avoid the points here and take the Ravens on the money line for a few extra bucks.
Baltimore’s defense has finally adjusted to the rash of injuries, and its offense looks like it’s rounding into shape for the playoffs. The Bengals will be reluctant to show the Ravens too much, because the teams might be facing off (for the third time) in the playoffs.
And, as Ravens coach John Harbaugh pointed out this week, your team doesn’t get better by losing. “We’ve got to continue to improve to be our best that we can in the playoffs,” he said.
“This week’s an opportunity to do that.”
