Lamar Jackson's presence has long loomed large in this divisional rivalry, with the Ravens quarterback having won 11 of his 14 starts against the Bengals. With Baltimore coming off another late letdown against the Browns, all eyes are on the star signal-caller and his potential return.
Jackson remains day-to-day, but clearance from his ankle injury could revitalize an offense that might have reached its limit in trying to scrape by without him. Meanwhile, Cincinnati should be close to full health as it comes off a bye. But the defense's shaky outing against the hapless Dolphins might leave some unease about how the unit might handle a much more challenging attack.
Ravens vs Bengals odds, moneyline, over/under
Opening lines:
- Spread: Ravens -3.5
- Moneyline: Ravens -185; Bengals +154
- Total: 51.5
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Ravens vs Bengals expert picks
Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz: Bengals 28, Ravens 20
Regardless of whether
Jackson plays, the pressure is on Ravens offensive coordinator Declan Doyle to rediscover the early-season innovation that made this offense look so difficult to defend. The Bengals have had difficulty accounting for scrambling quarterbacks and runs to the outside, so Jackson - or Tyler Huntley - and Derrick Henry could spring some big plays by working to the perimeter. But this feels like the kind of contest that Dexter Lawrence could wreck, especially if Cam Jurgens is unable to make his Baltimore debut and fortify a suspect interior line. If Joe Burrow can continue to attack the intermediate level that's proven difficult for the Ravens' defense to get a handle on, the Bengals could pull off just their second win in the series in the last three seasons.
Adam Kaufman: Bengals 27, Ravens 24
Obviously, this starts with Lamar Jackson. Baltimore's offense looks considerably different without him, and even a return wouldn't guarantee the ankle allows him to play like himself. Just consider how he looked when he got back on the field last season. Meanwhile, Cincinnati gets extra preparation coming out of its bye. Joe Burrow threw four touchdowns in Miami before the break, and I like his chances to make enough plays in a game that should carry significant weight in a crowded AFC North. Derrick Henry is the concern. If the Ravens control early downs and keep Burrow on the bench, this pick gets uncomfortable quickly. Still, I'll take the rested Bengals against a Ravens team dealing with uncertainty at quarterback.
Ravens vs Bengals picks roundup
CBS Sports: Bengals 27, Ravens 24
"(Lamar) Jackson has historically played well against the Bengals, but if he also tends to play differently when he's coming off an injury. ... The Ravens have the one offense in the NFL that the Bengals can't figure out. In the last six meetings between these two teams, the Ravens have gone 5-1 while averaging 29.2 points per game."
Sports Betting Dime: Ravens cover
“Baltimore pairs a 58.7% win probability with a high-powered offense scoring 26.0 points per game. Joe Burrow counters with 272.2 passing yards per contest for Cincinnati, thriving on third-down conversions. However, the Ravens’ ground-and-pound approach ultimately secures the cover.”
Football Sports News: Ravens 25, Bengals 24
FSN gives the Baltimore Ravens a 54% win probability against the Cincinnati Bengals ... The largest current model driver is venue / home field, which leans toward the Baltimore Ravens.
Sports Illustrated: Bengals +3
"The Bengals are seventh in EPA per play and 13th in opponent EPA per play while playing a much more difficult schedule than the Ravens. I think they can at least keep this game within a field goal, if not win it outright."
Where to watch Bengals at Ravens
- Matchup: Ravens vs. Bengals
- Date: Oct. 25
- Time: 1:00 p.m.
- Venue: M&T Bank Stadium
- Location: Baltimore, Maryland
- TV: CBS
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bengals at Ravens early predictions: Best bets to target for Sunday
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