Baltimore (1-0) at Cincinnati (1-0)
When: Thursday, September 13th 2018
Where: Paul Brown Stadium,
Cincinnati, Ohio
Time: 8:20 ET | TV: NFL Network
Opening Odds: Baltimore -3/43
The Pittsburgh Steelers have dominated the AFC North for the most part of the last decade, but the Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals appear to ready to challenge for the crown this season. The Ravens and Bengals both are coming off Week 1 victories – and covers – and will kick off Week 2 action on Thursday Night Football from Cincinnati’s Paul Brown Stadium. Baltimore, who were coming off a perfect 5-0 preseason, looked like the most impressive team in the league last week with a 47-3 thrashing of the Buffalo Bills. In fact, if you count the preseason, the Ravens have given up 20 points or less in all six games thus far, while quarterback Joe Flacco had an easy time with the Bills defense. The Bengals were down 23-10 in their opener at Indianapolis, before rallying for a 34-23 victory behind their veteran QB-WR combination of Andy Dalton and A.J. Green. Its been a tight series overall with these two teams (22-22), but the Bengals have won seven of the last nine meetings, including a split last season. The Ravens ended a five-game losing streak in Cincinnati with an ugly 20-0 Week 1 victory in 2017, while the Bengals closed the regular season with a 31-27 win in Baltimore, knocking the Ravens out of a wild-card spot and giving it to the Bills. The Bengals are 6-4 ATS in the previous 10 meetings at home, with the past two staying under the total. Baltimore opened as 3-point favorites, but the sharps quickly bet this down to pickem.
Flacco found chemistry immediately with his new receiving corps, connecting on scoring passes to Michael Crabtree, John Brown and Willie Snead in the blowout victory over Buffalo. Running backs Alex Collins, Javorius “Buck” Allen, and Kenneth Dixon each found the end zone as well, while backup quarterback and first round pick Lamar Jackson added 39 yards on the ground against the Bills. Dixon injured his knee in the game and is listed as questionable for Thursday. Baltimore’s defense made a statement in the opener, permitting the fewest points and yards (153) in the league while recording six sacks and two turnovers.
It wasn’t just Dalton and Green who starred offensively for Cincinnati on Sunday, as running back Joe Mixon recorded 149 yards from scrimmage – 95 rushing, 54 receiving – while adding score. Green, who had six receptions for 92 yards and a touchdown against the Colts on Sunday, was limited to just seven catches for 91 yards total in a pair of games versus the Ravens last season. Bengals linebacker Nick Vigil, who had a team-high 11 tackles in the opener, posted 10 tackles and an interception in the 20-0 Week 1 loss to the Ravens last season. While the Cincinnati defense limited Indianapolis on Sunday, they did allow 305 yards through the air and will need to put pressure on Flacco.
The Bengals have done well recently against the Ravens, winning and covering six of the last eight. Cincinnati is a slight underdog in this contest as of Tuesday night, and they are on an 8-1 ATS run as home dogs. I was impressed with the way the Bengals played last week and like them here in this spot. The Ravens will have a much tougher time stopping Cincinnati than they did Buffalo.
Pick: Bengals +1
Betting Trends:
- Ravens are 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 Thursday games.
- Ravens are 4-0-1 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
- Ravens are 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 road games.
- Ravens are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games in Week 2.
- Ravens are 5-1-1 ATS in their last 7 games after allowing less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Ravens are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games after accumulating more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
- Ravens are 12-3 ATS in their last 15 vs. AFC North.
- Ravens are 3-1-1 ATS in their last 5 games after scoring more than 30 points in their previous game.
- Ravens are 16-6-4 ATS in their last 26 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Ravens are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games in September.
- Ravens are 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 games after allowing less than 250 total yards in their previous game.
- Ravens are 3-9-2 ATS in their last 14 games following a straight up win of more than 14 points.
- Ravens are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games after allowing less than 150 yards passing in their previous game.
- Ravens are 0-3-1 ATS in their last 4 games after allowing less than 15 points in their previous game.
- Bengals are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games after allowing more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
- Bengals are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 vs. AFC.
- Bengals are 9-2 ATS in their last 11 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
- Bengals are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS win.
- Bengals are 4-1 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
- Bengals are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 vs. AFC North.
- Bengals are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games overall.
- Bengals are 6-2-1 ATS in their last 9 games in Week 2.
- Bengals are 8-3-1 ATS in their last 12 games after allowing less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Bengals are 13-5-2 ATS in their last 20 games after allowing more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
- Bengals are 18-7-2 ATS in their last 27 games in September.
- Bengals are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games after scoring more than 30 points in their previous game.
- Bengals are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games on fieldturf.
- Over is 6-1 in Ravens last 7 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Over is 5-1 in Ravens last 6 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 4-1 in Ravens last 5 games following a straight up win.
- Over is 7-2 in Ravens last 9 games after accumulating more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
- Over is 6-2 in Ravens last 8 games on fieldturf.
- Under is 8-3 in Ravens last 11 vs. AFC North.
- Over is 5-2 in Ravens last 7 road games.
- Under is 34-15-2 in Ravens last 51 games after accumulating more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
- Over is 9-4 in Ravens last 13 games overall.
- Under is 4-0-1 in Bengals last 5 Thursday games.
- Over is 4-0 in Bengals last 4 vs. AFC.
- Over is 4-0 in Bengals last 4 vs. AFC North.
- Under is 5-0 in Bengals last 5 games in Week 2.
- Over is 4-1 in Bengals last 5 games following a straight up win.
- Under is 9-3 in Bengals last 12 games after allowing less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Under is 17-6 in Bengals last 23 games following a ATS win.
- Under is 19-7 in Bengals last 26 games after allowing more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
- Under is 7-3 in Bengals last 10 home games.
- Under is 13-6 in Bengals last 19 games after allowing more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
- Under is 34-16-2 in Bengals last 52 games after scoring more than 30 points in their previous game.
- Underdog is 7-1 ATS in their last 8 meetings.
- Under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.
- Ravens are 4-9 ATS in their last 13 meetings in Cincinnati.
