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The math is simple for the Baltimore Ravens in their regular season finale: knock off the Cincinnati Bengals at home in Week 17, and they will be going to the playoffs. The Ravens can still make it with a loss but would prefer not to tempt fate.
Baltimore is the better team and the Bengals must hit the road for this one, so it is lining up to be a good day for the Ravens. Cincinnati fell out of postseason contention and has been reduced to the role of spoiler, but these teams are rivals so the Bengals may be motivated to play well.
Cincinnati coach Marvin Lewis has been rumored to be stepping away after this game, and that should be known definitively pretty quickly afterward.
Kickoff for this regular season Week 17 game is set for Sunday, December 31, 2017, at 4:25 p.m. ET at M&T Bank Stadium.
Opening NFL Odds at BookMaker.eu
Cincinnati Bengals +10
Baltimore Ravens -10
Over/Under 39.5
Odds Analysis
The Ravens are heavy double-digit favorites in this matchup, which seems much too high. Not surprisingly, more than 80 percent of the action is on the Bengals to cover this spread, because the talent gulf between these teams is not 10 points.
The scoring total is low because both teams have solid defenses and questionable offenses. The “over” is the more popular choice.
Baltimore is listed as the -475 favorite on the moneyline, while the Bengals are +367 underdogs.
Injury Report
Jeremy Maclin — The Ravens wide receiver has been out the past 10 days with a knee injury and didn’t practice on Wednesday. His availability for this game is in doubt. Baltimore’s passing attack is not very good and missing Maclin would be another setback.
Joe Mixon —The Bengals’ rookie running back is dealing with an ankle injury and he didn’t practice on Wednesday. He has not had the type of first year that was hoped, and it would end on a down not if he isn’t able to participate in this one.
Vontaze Burfict — The Cincinnati linebacker returned to the lineup last week against the Lions and finished with three tackles. He is one of the key cogs of the defense, and now that he is past the concussion symptoms it will be a big help for that side of the ball against Baltimore.
Key Stat
Five. That was the magic number for the Ravens’ defense the first time these two teams met back in the season opener on September 10th as Baltimore forced five turnovers and sacked Andy Dalton five times in a 20-0 win. Four of those turnovers came from interceptions and the team also had one fumble recovery.
The Ravens lead the league in takeaways this season with 33. The team, which has been up-and-down defensively since that game back in September, will be looking to make another big statement in this rematch this week since a win will guarantee a berth.
Baltimore’s defense has been the strength of the team and the reason why the team is in the playoff hunt. Expect another good performance out of it in this one.
Free ATS Pick
The Bengals had a nice win last time out over the Lions, which knocked Detroit out of the playoff race in the NFC. They would love to play spoiler in this one against the rival Ravens, but this one will be tougher.
Baltimore should have a small advantage because it is at home, but this spread is entirely too high. The Bengals are an easy choice to cover this spread, and for those feeling bold, it is the best moneyline option of any game this week.
Pick Cincinnati against the spread with confidence. The “under” is the choice as this should be a defensive slugfest.
NFL Odds: Ravens 17, Bengals 16
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