posted June 9, 2008 at 18:37 EST in NFL Free Picks

BetUS NFL betting odds: Pick'em

NOTABLE STAT: Cincinnati ran for 97 ypg last year (27th in league)

KEY NFL FOOTBALL BETTING TREND: Baltimore is 2-8 ATS in its last ten games

(For more useful stats and trends, visit our special Matchup Tool)

A couple of teams looking for something better out of the 2008 sports betting season will get together on the opening weekend as the Cincinnati Bengals (7-9 SU, 6-9-1 ATS in 2007) visit the Baltimore Ravens (5-11 SU, 3-13 ATS in 2007) in a NFL betting matchup between AFC North teams that is scheduled for Sunday, September 7 at 1 PM ET at M&T Bank Stadium (artificial turf) in Baltimore.

In the BetUS NFL football betting odds, the game is a pick'em.

Here are some NFL sports betting trends as they relate to this matchup:

* CIN has won four of its last six games SU

* CIN has lost eight of its last ten road games SU

* CIN has played five of its last six games UNDER the total

* BALT has lost nine of its last ten games SU

* BALT has covered two of its last ten games

* BALT has covered one of its last five home games

* BALT has played six of its last seven games OVER the total

* BALT has played five of its last seven home games OVER the total

* CIN has won six of the last seven meetings SU

* CIN has covered six of the last seven meetings

* BALT has won and covered seven of the last ten meetings SU as the home team

* Eight of the last 12 meetings have gone OVER the total

There were plenty of times last season when the Baltimore defense got downright angry at its offense, because of the inability to capitalize on field position, take advantage of turnovers, or in general, to get into the end zone. It was tough with Steve McNair hobbled (he's since retired) and with raw rookie Troy Smith getting considerable playing time. Immediate relief did not come in the draft, as Baltimore, now directed by new head coach John Harbaugh, selected quarterback Joe Flacco in the first round. Again, it will be either Smith or former first-round disappointment Kyle Boller leading the Baltimore offense, which features Willis McGahee, but not a whole lot more to frighten defenses.

Wide receiver Chad Johnson is an unhappy camper in Cincinnati, but all indications are that he is going to playing nonetheless, and thus will form a potent pass-catching duo with T.J. Houshmandzadeh, who made the Pro Bowl last year with his 112 receptions. Three wideouts were drafted, so the Bengals will be able to flood the Baltimore secondary, which has some question marks will hurt and/or aging defensive backs coming back. And someone will run the ball and run it well, whether it is Rudi Johnson, Chris Perry or Kenny Watson. Marvin Lewis, who built his reputation in coordinating the Baltimore defense when it won the Super Bowl after the 2000 season, has made some key additions, including pass-rusher Antwan Odom and rookie linebacker Keith Rivers.

Of course, it may be a long way until these Bengals are able to play with enough fundamentals to capture a playoff spot. The defense was permissive, to say the least But they have two edges here - they have a massive advantage with the productive Carson Palmer (4131 yards, 26 TD's) and they catch this Baltimore team in an offensive transition that might just bring about some more frustration from those able but crusty veterans, including Ray Lewis.

We are making an assumption here, and that assumption is that Chad Johnson and his demands to be traded out of Cincinnati will not have a Terrell Owens-like effect of distracting this Bengals team. If that's the case, in this pick'em sports betting matchup, we will go with the road team, the Cincinnati Bengals, in the BetUS NFL football betting odds.

JAY'S PLAY: CINCINNATI (pick) ***

(Graded on a scale of 1-4 stars)

The 2008 NFL betting season is around the corner! If you like to bet on the NFL, you are in the best possible place for online betting. The BetUS sportsbook has NFL odds up on a ton of futures, and you will also find NFL lines up for early games as well. Join BetUS today and we'll help guide you right through to Super Bowl XLIII and beyond!

(Charles Jay of www.ebookies.com is a member of the NFL too - that is, "not for long" if you don't get results. He is now a regular contributor to the BetUS.com Locker Room)