Among the early NFL games on Sunday afternoon is a crucial divisional contest between the Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals. First place in the AFC North will be on the line when these two teams tangle in Week 16. Both enter this game with identical 8-6 records. However, it is the Bengals who currently hold the tiebreaker in the standings as a result of winning the first head-to-head matchup. Will Cincinnati be able to hold serve at home? Or will Baltimore successfully exact some revenge in this rematch? The NFL betting odds list the home team as modest favorites ahead of this Ravens vs Bengals showdown.
The following Ravens vs Bengals NFL betting preview will give you the current odds, betting trends and picks for the Week 16 matchup, along with a stream link to watch games all season long.
Ravens vs Bengals Week 16 NFL Betting Preview
NFL Regular Season — Week 16
Baltimore Ravens (8-6, 3-4 Away) vs. Cincinnati Bengals (8-6, 3-4 Home)
Date: Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021
Time: 1 p.m. EST
Venue: Paul Brown Stadium — Cincinnati, OH
Coverage: Click here for the stream
Baltimore Ravens Preview
The Ravens saw what was once a multi-game lead in the AFC North melt away entirely this past weekend. A Bengals win combined with Baltimore’s third straight loss resulted in a tie atop the division. It ultimately raised the importance of what was already a high-stakes NFL betting matchup even more. While it has been a struggle for the Ravens of late, it should be noted that the three losses have all come by a combined four points. A failed two-point conversion try last week marked the second time in three weeks that John Harbaugh’s decision to roll the dice late backfired.
Backup quarterback Tyler Huntley played well filling in for Lamar Jackson last week. With all signs pointing towards the former NFL MVP missing this week’s NFL betting matchup as well, the onus will be on Huntley to replicate his strong showing. The 23-year-old leaned heavily on Mark Andrews and Marquise Brown as his top targets last week. Each finished the game with 10 receptions. On defense, the Ravens will need to have a better game plan in place to slow down the dynamic Cincinnati passing attack. Doing so with a shorthanded secondary could prove easier said than done.
Cincinnati Bengals Preview
After crushing the Ravens back in the first meeting between these teams, the Bengals hit a bit of a rut losing four of their next six games. Cincinnati was able to stop a two-game skid last week with a low-scoring win over the Denver Broncos. It was no surprise that Joe Burrow and the offense struggled to move the ball consistently against the stout Denver defense. Cincy’s dynamic young receiver duo of Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase was held to just three total catches. Luckily, veteran Tyler Boyd was able to save the day. Last week’s game was a perfect representation of just how many playmakers Burrow has at his disposal.
Many NFL betting analysts continue to severely underrate the Bengals’ defense. The free agency signing of pass-rusher Trey Hendrickson has proven to be money well-spent. Not only does he have 13.0 sacks on the season (5th in the NFL), but Hendrickson has made an impact each and every week. He is a big reason why the Bengals rank 11th in adjusted defensive efficiency through the first 15 weeks.
Ravens vs Bengals NFL Betting Odds and Spread
NFL betting odds for Ravens vs Bengals are taken from BetMGM Sportsbook.
Moneyline: BAL: (+165) | CIN: (-200)
Spread: BAL: +4.5 (-110) | CIN: -4.5 (-110)
Total: 44.5 — Over: (-110) | Under: (-110)
Public (Spread) Betting via Action Network: BAL: (39%) | CIN: (61%)
Ravens vs Bengals NFL Betting Trends
- Ravens are 7-0 ATS in their last seven road games when facing an opponent for the second time in a season.
- Five of the Ravens’ last six road games have gone under the total.
- Bengals are just 7-17-1 ATS in their last 25 games following a win over an AFC opponent.
- Bengals are just 1-5 ATS in their last six home games.
- Ravens are 5-1 straight up in their last six head-to-head matchups against the Bengals.
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Ravens vs Bengals Stats
- Baltimore is averaging 23.9 points per game (PPG) this season (No. 15 in the NFL).
- Baltimore is surrendering 22.5 PPG this season (No. 20 in the NFL).
- Cincinnati is averaging 26.4 PPG this season (No. 9 in the NFL).
- Cincinnati is surrendering 21.6 PPG this season (T-No. 11 in the NFL).
Ravens vs Bengals Prediction
This Ravens vs Bengals NFL betting prediction uses NumberFire’s game projections. They give Cincinnati a 58.3% chance to win this Week 16 matchup.
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