Ravens vs Bengals Odds, Picks, Predictions, and Best Bets

• First place in the AFC North is on the line when the Baltimore Ravens visit the Cincinnati Bengals
• Betting Record: 0-1 ML; 6-6 ATS; 1-1 O/U; -3.7 units
• Read below for odds, analysis and a betting prediction

It’s a battle for first place in the AFC North when the Baltimore Ravens visit the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 16.

Both teams have identical 8-6 records, with Cincy holding the tiebreaker on the strength of a head-to-head win in Week 7.

Baltimore has fallen back to the division pack as they’ve lost three straight, including the last two without star pivot Lamar Jackson, who’s dealing with an ankle injury.

Meanwhile, the Bengals broke a two-game slide with a slugfest win in Denver. They’re pegged as 3.5-point home favorites Sunday.

The game goes at 1pm ET from Paul Brown Stadium, and you can watch it live on CBS.

Ravens vs Bengals Odds

Odds as of Dec 25th at DraftKings

Baltimore Ravens Outlook

It’s possible Lamar Jackson will be making a return to the lineup after missing the last two games with an ankle injury. If he can’t go, Tyler Huntley has proved more than capable of emulating the MVP in the Ravens’ offense.

True, but Tyler Huntley is still fully expected to start for the #Ravens Sunday in this monster matchup vs the #Bengals, I am told by someone w/in the organization. (Lamar Jackson missed his 12th straight day… don’t expect him to play.) https://t.co/1IYpg8tSQW

— Aditi Kinkhabwala (@AKinkhabwala) December 24, 2021

Huntley threw for 215 yards and a pair of touchdowns, while running for 73 yards and a pair of scores in a 31-30 loss to the Packers last week. Regardless who’s in under center, Baltimore would be wise to get the ball to Mark Andrews, who is playing the best football of his season.

Andrews has 21 catches for 251 yards and three TD’s in his last two games. He’s gone for back-to-back 100+ yard receiving games after going seven straight sub-100 outings.

Ok, who had Mark Andrews yesterday?? 🤯

(@GEICO) pic.twitter.com/Or33wrF7FS

— NFL Fantasy Football (@NFLFantasy) December 20, 2021

Defensively, we’re about to find out if this Ravens’ defense can hold up. Injuries and COVID have wrecked Baltimore’s unit, and they’ll be trotting out Anthony Averett and Tavon Young at cornerback with Marlon Humphrey and Jimmy Smith both sidelined.

That’s advantage Cincy, who already flexed on a far healthier Baltimore D in Week 7, turning a 17-13 deficit into a 41-17 thrashing with four straight touchdowns drives.

While the Ravens are first in run defense, surrendering just 86 yards per game, they are second-last in passing D, giving up over 264 yards a contest.

Cincinnati Bengals Outlook

With the Ravens dropping games, the Bengals climbed back into a tie for the division lead with a 15-10 win over Denver to stop a 2-game skid. After throwing for 300+ yards in his previous two losses, QB Joe Burrow threw for a modest 158 yards and a TD in the win.

This drive right here shows the growth this offense has made. Ravens come out and take the lead immediately, but then the Bengals respond beautifully.

Could’ve been danger zone but Joe Burrow is so calm, cool, and collected. #RuleTheJungle | #Bengals pic.twitter.com/m9R7FusRM0

— Patrick Carey (@PatCareySports) October 25, 2021

That’s a far cry from his best outing of the year in a win of the year against these Ravens, when he threw for 416 yards and three TD’s. That win moved the Bengals to 5-2 on the year, but they’ve gone just 3-4 since then.

Rookie Ja’Marr Chase was unstoppable, hauling in a season-high eight balls and 201 yards receiving with a TD. He will also look to get back to his dominant self, after just one catch for three yards against Denver.

JA’MARR CHASE IS EMBARRASSING THE RAVENS DEFENSE
pic.twitter.com/WJwbSkspoX

— PFF (@PFF) October 24, 2021

The Bengals’ defense has been stout against the run, a top-4 unit allowing just 95.9 yards a game. While they’re tied for third in the NFL in sacks with 40, Jackson or Huntley should find some passing lanes: Cincy is surrendering 249.8 yards through the air per game, which is 7th-worst in the NFL.

Ravens vs Bengals Pick

If Baltimore had converted two 2-point conversions in the last three weeks, they’d be 10-4 and the runaway favorite to capture the division.

Alas, Jim Harbaugh is fearless making those kind of calls because his Ravens are built to compete, and they seem to flourish in late-season, high-stakes contests.

In the last three years, the Ravens are a whopping 11-2 ATS in December.  They’re also an impressive 8-1 ATS on the road against teams with winning records.

"It's straight ahead. Let's go play our best football game." pic.twitter.com/A7dyqpbJC9

— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) December 24, 2021

The injuries are a concern, however, and even if they are competitive, they may not have the bodies to keep up with Burrow and the Bengals.

With the zaniness that can come with a division matchup, let’s look at the total. They already cruised past that number last meeting.

The Ravens are coming off back-to-back overs, while Cincy’s win in Denver is the only time they would not have hit this total in the last 11 games.

Pick: OVER 44.5 (1.5 units to win 1.36 units)