Cincinnati Bengals vs. Baltimore Ravens: Betting Odds, Analysis, NFL Pick

The Cincinnati Bengals (2-0) continue their AFC North rivalry with the Baltimore Ravens (0-2) on Sunday knowing they have enjoyed some recent success against them as they try to stay undefeated.

The Bengals are 4-1 straight up and against the spread in their past five meetings with the Ravens, who will be playing their first home game this year.

Point Spread: The Ravens opened as 1.5-point favorites. The total was 44 early in the week.

Odds Shark Computer Pick: Ravens 25.0, Bengals 21.7

Why the Bengals Can Cover the Spread

Cincinnati has been the better regular-season team between the two divisional rivals over the past three years, including in 2012 when Baltimore went on to win the Super Bowl.

Unfortunately for the Bengals, that has not translated to a postseason victory, while the Ravens have won five playoff games during that stretch. This season, Cincy has an excellent opportunity to put Baltimore in an early hole at 0-3 and would love nothing more than to make that happen on the road.

Last season, the Bengals beat the Ravens 23-16 at M&T Bank Stadium as one-point road underdogs in Week 1 as part of their 3-0 start.

They are not intimidated by playing on the road and won four straight away from home last year before falling to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the regular-season finale that decided the AFC North champion.

Why the Ravens Can Cover the Spread

Baltimore should be motivated to get its first win playing at home against a familiar opponent after suffering a pair of tough road losses to AFC West teams.

Even though the Ravens have struggled against Cincinnati recently, they are still more than capable of getting a victory here with a 5-1 mark SU in their past six divisional home games.

Quarterback Joe Flacco is also still getting used to his new receivers for Baltimore and will be a lot more comfortable playing in front of his home fans. Flacco was definitely better in the second game against the Oakland Raiders than he was versus the Denver Broncos in the season opener, and that improvement should continue here.

Smart Pick

The Ravens are small favorites in this spot because they desperately need a win and have home-field advantage in an otherwise even game. The Bengals appear to be the better team on paper right now, but that doesn’t mean anything in divisional rivalry games.

Baltimore remains a dangerous team despite being winless at this point and will make sure that status changes with a victory and cover against Cincinnati.

Betting Trends

• The Bengals are 4-1 SU and ATS in their last five games against the Ravens.
• The total has gone under in six of the Bengals’ last seven divisional road games.
• The Ravens are 15-1 SU in their last 16 games at home in September.

All point spread and lines data courtesy of Odds Shark, all quotes gathered firsthand unless otherwise noted. Check out Twitter for injury and line movement updates and get the free odds tracker app.