TNF Bengals at Ravens Preview

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Developing Stories 📰

Thursday Night Football brings us an anticipated game as the Cincinnati Bengals go head-to-head with the Baltimore Ravens in a crucial game for the AFC North. The Bengals, who recently suffered a 30-27 home defeat to the Texans are aiming to bounce back. The Ravens had a 33-31 loss to the Browns at home. In their previous encounter in Week 2, the Ravens emerged victorious with a 27-24 road win. The current odds favor the Ravens as 3.5-point home favorites, with kickoff scheduled for 8:15 EST at M&T Bank Stadium.

Despite a recent setback against the Texans, the Cincinnati Bengals had shown promise with a four-game winning streak, including victories over playoff-contending teams like the Bills, 49ers, and Seahawks. Quarterback Joe Burrow threw for 347 yards and two touchdowns in the Texans game but faced two interceptions. Burrow, ranking 13th in the NFL for total passing yards with 2,208 and a 67% completion rate, expressed disappointment after the loss, stating, "It’s disappointing that we didn’t make a play at the end of the day."

The Bengals heavily rely on running back Joe Mixon, who has 137 carries this season, averaging 59.6 yards per game with four rushing touchdowns. Wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase ranks 7th in the league for receiving yards (821) and has been a key target for Burrow with five touchdowns on the season.

The Ravens, like the Bengals, experienced a four-game winning streak before a recent loss to the Browns. Lamar Jackson, ranking 14th in passing yards with 2,177 and averaging 217.7 per game, leads the team. The Ravens' running game, criticized by coach John Harbaugh after the Browns game, faces challenges, with Gus Edwards as the leading rusher with 50.2 yards per game and eight rushing touchdowns.

In this prime-time divisional game, the expectation is a closely contested matchup. Considering the teams' recent performances and the three-point margin of victory in their previous encounter, taking the points seems like the right play. Cincinnati has a plus-ten turnover differential (tied for the best in the league), holds an advantage over the Ravens who have only a plus-one differential. The Bengals' defense is familiar with Lamar Jackson's running style and with Burrow's improved form and the revenge factor from their earlier loss to Baltimore they should keep this close.

Headlines 🚨

On This Day In Sport History: 1901 6^th Iron Bowl Auburn beats Alabama 17-0 in Tuscaloosa,

2018 Lebron James passes Wilt Chamberlain for 5^th on the NBA’s career scoring list with 44 points.

Cleveland Browns QB DeShaun Watson will undergo season-ending surgery on his throwing shoulder to repair a fracture.

The Buffalo Bills fire Offensive Coordinator Ken Dorsey and named Joe Brady interim replacement after loss to Denver.

Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth is on pace to play Sunday vs. the Browns.

Georgia took over the No.1 spot in the newest College Football ranking after back-to-back wins over top-25 opponents.

Texas A&M’s record $76 million contract buyout for Jimbo Fisher accounts for more than half of the $146 million Power 5 schools owe to fired head coaches since 2022.

Draymond Green, Klay Thompson, and Jaden McDaniels were ejected last night for their role in a fight when the score was 0-0 and two minutes into the game.

San Diego Padres owner and chairman Peter Swidler dies at 63.

Shohei Ohtani turned down a $20.3 Million qualifying offer from the Angels on Tuesday and remained in free agency.

Trends 📈📉 via Oddsshark

🏈 Bengals at Ravens

• Cincinnati is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Baltimore

🏀 Mavericks at Wizards

• The total has gone OVER in 5 of Dallas's last 5 games when playing Washington

• The total has gone OVER in 7 of Dallas's last 8 games on the road

• Washington is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Dallas

🏀 Bucks at Raptors

• Toronto is 14-4 SU in its last 18 games at home

🏀 Celtics at 76ers

• The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Boston's last 5 games

🏀 Magic at Bulls

• Orlando is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Chicago

🏀 Timberwolves at Suns

• The total has gone OVER in 4 of Minnesota's last 5 games

🏀 Cavaliers at Trail Blazers

• The total has gone OVER in 5 of Cleveland's last 6 games on the road

• The total has gone OVER in 4 of Cleveland's last 5 games

• Portland is 7-2 ATS in its last 9 games when playing at home against Cleveland

• Portland is 7-2 SU in its last 9 games when playing at home against Cleveland

🏀 Kings at Lakers

• The total has gone OVER in 6 of Sacramento's last 7 games when playing LA Lakers

Public Money 🤑 via VSiN at 9AMCT

🏀 NBA

42% of bets and 64% of money is on ORL +1.5

36% of bets and 63% of money is on ORL +105

42% of bets and 69% of money is on PHX -6

48% of bets and 68% of money is on SAC +1.5

31% of bets and 56% of money is on UNDER 218.5 CLE at POR

Future Odds 🔮 via Bovada Sportsbook

Injury Report 🏥 via ESPN

BAL (CB) Marlon Humphrey | Doubtful - Calf

BAL (OT) Ronnie Stanley | Out 

BAL (CB) Daryl Worley | Probable - Hamstring

CIN (DE) Sam Hubbard | Out - Ankle

CIN (WR) Tee Higgins | Out - Hamstring

Picks 🔒

Bengals +4 | See above for analysis