Baltimore Ravens vs. Cincinnati Bengals Betting Pick 12/26/21
Baltimore Ravens (8-6 SU, 7-7 ATS) vs. Cincinnati Bengals (8-6 SU, 7-7 ATS)
NFL Week 16
Date/Time: Sunday December 26th, 2021. 1:00PM (EST)
Where: Paul Brown Stadium Cincinnati, OH
TV: CBS
Betting Odds:
Point Spread:BAL +2.5/CIN -2.5 (BetNow – These guys will match your first deposit dollar for dollar up to a thousand bucks! This is the absolute best sportsbook bonus from a legit online bookie!)
Total: 44.5
The AFC North is shaping up to be one of the closest division finishes in NFL history, with all four teams separated by just one game going into week 16. The two teams at the top of the division will square off in an intriguing match-up this Sunday when the Cincinnati Bengals host the Baltimore Ravens at Paul Brown Stadium. The visiting Ravens lost the division lead after dropping two straight games in a similar fashion thanks to Head Coach John Harbaugh deciding to go for a winning 2 point conversion rather than tie the game with field goals. Harbaugh and the Ravens failed both attempts, which has now put the team in a precarious situation towards needing a victory to stay in control of their own destiny.
Meanwhile, the Cincinnati Bengals snapped a two-game losing streak last week with a 15-10 victory over the Denver Broncos despite one of their worst offensive performances in several weeks. With the victory and the Ravens loss, the Bengals moved to the top of the division. Despite both teams having identical records (8-6 SU, 7-7 ATS), the Bengals own the H2H tiebreaker over the Ravens thanks to their 41-17 blowout victory in week 7. In that game, QB Joe Burrow delivered his biggest game of the season with a 416-yard passing performance with three touchdowns. On Sunday, the Bengals hope to get another big offensive performance when they host the Ravens as 2.5 point betting favorites.
Ravens QB Lamar Jackson expected to return against Bengals
Former league MVP and franchise QB Lamar Jackson missed the 1st game of his career due to an injury, last week’s loss to the Green Bay Packers. Jackson suffered a sprained ankle in the Week 14 road loss to Pittsburgh. With two straight losses, the Ravens’ playoffs chances are hanging in the balance. Fortunately, Head Coach John Harbaugh stated he expects Jackson to return this week, barring any setbacks. To be fair, QB Tyler Huntley played well in last week’s loss to Green Bay and led the team back late in the 4th quarter before a failed 2 point conversion sealed the Ravens fate. However, Jackson does give the Ravens the home run threat with each touch of the ball, and Baltimore desperately needs all of their biggest playmakers on the field this week to keep those postseason hopes alive.
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Baltimore Ravens vs. Cincinnati Bengals Betting
In the first meeting back in week 7, the Bengals had nearly everything go their way. TE C.J. Uzomah had his best performance of the season with three catches for 91 yards with two touchdowns. Fellow rookie WR Ja’Marr Chase added his career-best performance with numerous big plays parlaying eight catches into 201 yards with a touchdown. Meanwhile, the Bengals defense forced five sacks against QB Lamar Jackson and the Ravens’ offense just never found any momentum. Of course, these are two different football teams at a different time in the season. Therefore, I would encourage bettors to pay minimal attention to the first outcome when breaking down this Sunday’s match-up.
In terms of the match-up, both the Bengals and Ravens have solid run defenses, and both teams nearly mirror each other statistically in all defensive categories. Offensively, I would give the talent factor to Cincinnati in the passing game. Not only is Burrow a talented young passer, but the Bengals have serious talent in the receiving corps with Chase, Tee Higgins, and Tyler Boyd. However, I have never been the biggest fan of Head Coach Zac Taylor and his ability to utilize his talent against opposing defenses’ weaknesses.
Whereas Cincinnati often has stretches of dormancy, Baltimore has the more balanced attack and an outright better offense. Both quarterbacks, Lamar Jackson, and Tyler Huntley, have been terrific at extending plays and picking up conversions. In a highly contested division rival game with playoff implications on the line, I tend to side with the team that I expect to make the plays down the stretch, and that is clearly the Ravens who are surprisingly considered the “underdogs.”
Jay’s Pick: Despite the outcome in the 1st meeting, I believe the Ravens are the better team, and we should get their best effort this week with their back against the wall. Take Baltimore +2.5. Bankroll depleted? Instead of re-deposting for zilch at your book, please consider taking a look at our best sportsbook bonuses page and help yourself to a 100% real cash bonus at one of many top tier betting sites! Free money is good money!
