Reigning MVP Lamar Jackson gave NFL bettors a bit of an early Halloween scare, after being held out of practice earlier in the week with an apparent knee injury.
But the Ravens star quarterback returned to the field Friday, and Baltimore is now on the board as a big 13-point home favorite for their first matchup against first-overall pick Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals, who have covered the spread in both road games this season.
These are our best NFL free picks and predictions for Bengals vs. Ravens on October 11.
Cincinnati Bengals vs Baltimore Ravens betting preview
Weather
The forecast is calling for cloudy skies and a 100 percent chance of rain, including periods of heavy rain Sunday Game-time temperatures will be in the high 60s with winds blowing ESE up to 10 mph. Be sure to monitor the gametime conditions with our NFL weather info.
Key Injuries
Bengals: Mackensie Alexander CB (Out).
Ravens: Tyre Phillips G (Out).
Find our latest NFL injury reports.
Betting Trend to Know
AFC North battles always seem tight no matter perceived difference in talent, and this matchup is no different. The underdog is 9-3 ATS in the last 12 meetings and the Bengals are 5-1 ATS in their last six trips to Baltimore. Find more NFL betting trends for Bengals vs. Ravens.
Against the spread (ATS) pick
The Ravens bounced back from the beat down the Chiefs handed them in Week 3 by dispatching the Washington Football Team 31-17 last Sunday. But a late Washington touchdown sent Baltimore -14.5 backers home unhappy. Now, it sounds like the Ravens are being overly cautious with Lamar Jackson’s knee, but those aren’t the only injuries they're dealing with. While most of the players on the injury report are expected to suit up Sunday, that’s certainly not optimal against a scrappy Bengals team, that's following the lead of their young quarterback.
Get this. The Bengals are undefeated the last two weeks! Obviously, there's a tie with the Eagles in there, but it’s still a fact. Burrow has upped his game the last two weeks, completing nearly 70 percent of his passes for 612 yards, three touchdowns, and one pick. More importantly, he's starting to push the ball down the field more, upping his yards per attempt to 7.5 the last two weeks, after being at just 5.0 in the first two.
That efficiency has opened things up for running back Joe Mixon, who rumbled for 151 yards and scored three touchdowns last week. That’s the type of balance you need to be successful against a very good Ravens defense.
But while that Ravens defense is talented, they’ve struggled against the pass this season, allowing opponents to complete over 68 percent of their passes, and rank 26th in passing yards allowed per game. With both their corners banged up, expect Burrow to attack the Ravens secondary.
Burrow versus Jackson could be a great rivalry in the AFC North for years to come, and this spread seems a little too big for teams with a history of playing close games.
PREDICTION: Bengals +13 (-110)
Over/Under pick
While the Bengals offense is showing signs of growth, the defense still has some work to do, particularly against the run, where they don’t look the most interested in tackling. Cincinnati is allowing nearly five yards per carry this season, and ranks 27th in the NFL giving up almost 160 yards per contest on the ground. Now, they just have to deal with the NFL’s best rushing team in the Ravens.
Jackson might not be on the MVP pace he was last season, but his 2020 has still been pretty remarkable. The dual-threat QB is completing 69 percent of his passes for 769 yards with seven touchdowns and one pick, while adding 235 yards, at a clip of 6.0 yards per carry and a score on the ground. He's one of three Ravens averaging six yards per carry this season, and that doesn't include Mark Ingram, whose 4.4 still isn’t bad.
Now, 51 is a high total for the matchup, as the last 10 meetings haven't seen a number higher than 47. But Baltimore should do its job against a questionable Cincy defense, and the Bengals will have the tools to do their part. Scoring is up in 2020 and this definitely is not Andy Dalton vs Joe Flacco.
PREDICTION: Over 51 (-110)
Player Prop Pick
Joe Burrow is starting build some chemistry with fellow rookie Tee Higgins. Many thought the Bengals made a bit of a reach by taking the former Clemson wideout at the top of the second round, but Higgins' hands and top-notch ability to high point the ball play well in the NFL, and his play is having him surpass old man A.J. Green.
Higgins has run the most routes on the team the last two weeks, and has been targeted 16 times in that span, hauling in nine of them for 117 yards and two scores. Baltimore on paper is a scary matchup, but we’ve mentioned the Ravens’ struggles against the pass, and their starting corners are playing banged up.
Look for Burrow to keep targeting Higgins in this matchup and take down this moderately low receiving total.
PREDICTION: Tee Higgins Over 41.5 Receiving Yards (-121)
Bengals vs Ravens betting card
- Bengals +13 (-110)
- Over 51 (-110)
- Tee Higgins Over 41.5 Receiving Yards (-121)
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