NFL Sunday: Baltimore at Cincinnati

The 3 point favorite Baltimore Ravens are seeking for revenge this Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals who are home underdogs.  The game starts at 1:00 PM ET at Paul Brown Stadium in an AFC north matchup.

NFL Betting Odds:
Baltimore Ravens -3
Cincinnati Bengals +3
O/U 44

On Oct. 11 Carson Palmer led the Bengals to a 17-14 win over the Ravens.  Palmer threw a pass to Andre Caldwell for the game-winning touchdown with 22 seconds left after Cedric Benson became the first player in 40 games to top 100 rushing yards against Baltimore.

“We're in a good spot right now," Palmer said. "Being 5-2 and tied for first in the division -- it's ours to lose, really. We just need to hang on for as long as we can and finish the season with a bunch of wins and see what happens as far as the playoff pictures concerned”.

The Ravens arrive to this game after defeating the previously unbeaten Denver Broncos 30-7 last week.  If Baltimore wants to keep their division title hopes alive they must beat the division rival Bengals.

“There is no doubt about it, this game matters. It matters a lot for us," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. "They can probably survive a loss -- we can survive a loss, too -- but it will make it a lot more interesting if we go down there and win."

Ravens QB Joe Flacco did not have sensational numbers in Week 8 but he got the job done.  He hasn't thrown a pick in two straight games now and has three touchdowns over that period.

Expect Flacco to look for RB Ray Rice in short passes.  Rice is second in the NFL in receptions by a RB with 38. NFL betting fans keep in mind the Bengals have one of the worst pass defenses in the NFL (rank 27th) and could be a big game not only for Rice but for Derrick Mason and Mark Clayton as well.

On the ground Rice and Willis McGahee will have to shares carries in order to confuse a good Cincinnati run defense.   Expect a good hard hitting game between two teams that hate each other.

For a divisional clash there are always a few betting trends to keep an eye on like Baltimore being 6-2 ATS in its last 8 games on the road or Cincinnati is 7-3 ATS in its last 10 games.

Also if you’re betting on the game total notice it has gone OVER in 4 of Cincinnati's last 6 games.

Last 7 head to head matchups

Oct 11, 2009        BAL 14, @CIN 17
Nov 30, 2008      BAL 34, CIN 3
Sep 7, 2008         BAL 17, @CIN 10
Nov 11, 2007      BAL 7, @CIN 21
Sep 10, 2007       BAL 20, CIN 27
Nov 30, 2006      BAL 7, CIN 13
Nov 5, 2006         BAL 26, @CIN 20

My pick: Upset by the Bengals. Over.