Bengals vs. Ravens: Odds, expert picks and predictions

This is an important week for the Bengals.

They are starting rookie Ryan Finley, so the team is able to get a proper look at what they have in the young player. Finley’s play will also decide how the rest of Cincinnati’s season could unfold.

No one should think the Bengals have some sort of miracle playoff run in them, but if Finley plays well, the team could earn a few wins for confidence in this team going forward.

If the offense continues on the same path then we are looking at another long eight weeks, but what do the experts and oddsmakers think of Cincinnati this week against the Ravens?

Odds

The Bengals are currently 10.5-point underdogs against the Ravens at home, according to Bovada. Not a shocking development as Baltimore just knocked off the hottest team in the NFL last week, and now they face the only winless team left. It helps that the Ravens also already beat the Bengals earlier this season. That game finished as 23-17 loss for Cincinnati, but it took a very late touchdown for it to end up that close.

Betting trends

• Cincinnati is 1-4 against the spread in their last five games.
• The total has gone under in six of Cincinnati’s last nine games.
• Cincinnati is 0-10 straight up in their last 10 games.
• Cincinnati is 1-8 against the spread in their last nine games at home.
• Cincinnati is 6-1 straight up in their last seven games when playing at home against Baltimore.
• Cincinnati is 0-8 straight up in their last eight games this season.
• The total has gone UNDER in four of Cincinnati’s last five games against an opponent in the AFC conference.
• Cincinnati is 8-3 against the spread in their last 11 games against an opponent in the AFC North division.
• The total has gone over in five of Cincinnati’s last six games played in November.
• The total has gone over in four of Baltimore’s last six games.
• Baltimore is 4-1 straight up in their last five games.
• Baltimore is 1-5 against the spread in their last six games against Cincinnati.
• Baltimore is 4-8 straight up in their last 12 games against Cincinnati.
• Baltimore is 4-1 straight up in their last five games on the road.
• Baltimore is 1-6 straight up in their last seven games when playing on the road against Cincinnati.
• The total has gone over in five of Baltimore’s last six games against an opponent in the AFC conference.
• Baltimore is 0-6-1 against the spread in their last seven games against an opponent in the AFC North division.
• The total has gone under in four of Baltimore’s last five games played in week 10.

Expert predictions

• Fox Sports is predicting a 32.4-18 loss for the Bengals
• All 10 of ESPN’s experts took the Ravens
• CBS Sports unanimously went with Baltimore over Cincinnati
• All eight of SB Nations’ picked the Bengals to lose on Sunday
• NFL Pick Watch, which compiles picks from experts around the web, doesn’t have the Bengals receiving any picks this week.

It is a lot to ask experts to go out on a limb for the Bengals this week. The Ravens are coming off their most impressive win of the season, and the Bengals are starting a rookie quarterback without A.J. Green in the lineup.

If Finley is able to look impressive, or even just move this offense consistently, then maybe Cincinnati will become more popular of a pick in the upcoming weeks. This week they are well deserved underdogs.