Cincinnati Bengals vs. Baltimore Ravens: Spread Info, Line and Predictions

The Cincinnati Bengals missed out on an opportunity to make a huge statement against the Pittsburgh Steelers last week, but they get another crack at proving their legitimacy this week when they take on AFC North juggernaut Baltimore Ravens.

The Ravens are the hardest team in the NFL to figure out. They are impossible to feel confident picking for or against. They have wins against the Texans and Jets and swept the Steelers, but their inexplicable losses against Jaguars and Seahawks make their matchup with the Bengals anything but a sure win.

Both teams come into this matchup at 6-3 and with AFC North and wild-card implications rampant, this is a must-win game for both teams.

Let's take a closer look to see who has the upper hand.

Where: M&T Bank Stadium (Baltimore, MD)

When: Sunday, Nov. 20 at 1 p.m. EDT

Watch: CBS 

Betting Line: Cincinnati +7, according to Sportsbook.com

Take the Ravens. They beat the Steelers, Jets and Texans by 15 or more. The Bengals are 4-1 on the road, but they haven't faced a team as capable as Baltimore on the road yet. Ray Lewis or no Ray Lewis, the Bengals are outmatched.

Betting Over/Under: 40.5, according to Sportsbook.com

Take the under. This matchup features two top-5 defenses. The Steelers and Bengals hit 41 points last week, but the Ravens have proven they don't have an offense with nearly that sort of firepower and this has defensive struggle written all over it.

Who Might Not Play For Cincinnati

Updated injury report found on NFL.com

CIN
Michael Johnson	DE	Not Injury Related	Limited Participation in Practice	--
A.J. Green	WR	Knee	Did Not Participate In Practice	Doubtful
Donald Lee	TE	Foot	Did Not Participate In Practice	Doubtful
Carlos Dunlap	DE	Hamstring	Limited Participation in Practice	Questionable
Dontay Moch	LB	Illness	Did Not Participate In Practice	Probable
Nate Clements	CB	Knee	Full Participation in Practice	Probable
Kyle Cook	C	Foot	Full Participation in Practice	Probable
Chris Crocker	S	Knee	Full Participation in Practice	Probable
Jonathan Fanene	DE	Illness	Full Participation in Practice	Probable
Andrew Hawkins	WR	Hamstring	Full Participation in Practice	Probable
Adam Jones	CB	Groin	Limited Participation in Practice	Probable
Brian Leonard	RB	Knee	Limited Participation in Practice	Probable
Frostee Rucker	DE	Knee	Limited Participation in Practice	Probable
Gibril Wilson	S	Ankle	Limited Participation in Practice	Probable
Who Might Not Play for Baltimore BAL
Anthony Allen	RB	Thigh	Did Not Participate In Practice	Out
Arthur Jones	DT	Head	Did Not Participate In Practice	Out
Ray Lewis	LB	Foot	Did Not Participate In Practice	Questionable
Dannell Ellerbe	LB	Thigh	Full Participation in Practice	Questionable
Lee Evans	WR	Ankle	Limited Participation in Practice	Questionable

Fantasy Big Plays

Ray Rice

When the Ravens lose, it's usually because they don't get Ray Rice the ball. The playcalling has been atrocious and it's unclear how many times the Ravens are going to need to learn the same lesson.

There is no excuse for Rice getting 13 touches like he did last week and in the Ravens' loss against the Jaguars. Expect the Ravens to remember that they have an elite back in the backfield and utilize far more frequently this week.

Cedric Benson

It's been far too long since Cedric Benson has broken loose. Not since Week 4 has he hit the 100-yard mark, and with A.J. Green likely sidelined this week, Benson is going to need to come up big against the Ravens for the Bengals to pull off the upset.

Benson is going to get his touches and given the nature of what is sure to be a ground and pound defensive struggle, both feature backs involved are going to be heavily utilized.

Key to Bengals win

Protect the football at all costs. Andy Dalton is in the midst of a great rookie campaign, but turning the ball over against the Ravens will land him in a hole that he can't be expected to dig the Bengals out of—especially without Green on the field.

Eliminate Rice. Rice is the heart and soul of the Ravens' offense. By taking him out of the equation, the Bengals put their own offense in a position to succeed.

Key to Ravens win

Collectively fill the Ray Lewis void. Losing the emotional leader of their team could have a devastating effect on the Ravens. No one player can be expected to fill the void he's going to leave on the field, but collectively, everyone needs to rally around each other and maintain the dominant defense they've put forth all season long.

Feed Rice. This should go without saying. The fact that the Ravens pick and choose which games they are going to utilize Rice and which they are going to ignore him is embarrassing. He's their best playmaker.

Having a shutdown defense puts their offense in a great position to succeed. Not getting the ball in the hands of their best play maker is a huge waste of the golden opportunities the Baltimore is routinely presented with.

Prediction

Ravens 17, Bengals 9