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Ravens vs. Bengals: NFL Playoff Predictions for Wild Card Round on Sunday, January 15, 2023
In a rematch of a game that we just saw in Week 18, the Cincinnati Bengals host the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Wild Card Round at 8:15PM ET on Sunday, January 15. With that in mind, find out how we think this one will play out in our Ravens vs. Bengals betting preview. We're going to give you some in-depth analysis, as well as the NFL predictions from our predictive analytics model and world-class artificial intelligence. The Super Bowl is right around the corner, so we're pulling out all the stops. Let's have a fun couple of weeks, as this is one of the best parts of the year for sports bettors.
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The Bengals have proven last season was no fluke and wrapped up the AFC North title last Sunday with a workmanlike 27-13 victory over these same Ravens. The outcome also avoided a coin flip to determine home-field advantage and a public relations nightmare for the NFL.
Baltimore is likely to be without quarterback Lamar Jackson once again, though head coach John Harbaugh won’t officially rule him out. Jackson hasn’t played since Week 13 due to a sprained knee.
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Ravens vs. Bengals Predictions
- Predicted score: Bengals 25 - Ravens 15
- 57% chance the Bengals cover the -8.5-point spread
- 86% chance the Bengals win on the moneyline
- No edge on Ravens-Bengals Over/Under 40.5
For the best NFL computer picks, check out our Ravens vs. Bengals data predictions. They are constantly updating based on hundreds of different data points.
Ravens vs. Bengals Odds and Betting Lines
Will The Ravens Cover The Spread?
Aside from allowing Joe Mixon to get into the end zone last week (see coin flip celebration), Baltimore’s defense didn’t budge much when Joe Burrow didn’t drop back to pass. Mixon had only 27 yards on 11 carries with a long gain of eight; Samaje Perine only 18 yards on six touches.
Burrow finished the regular season with 35 scoring strikes and 12 interceptions. When push comes to shove, the Ravens will also need to find a way to put more points on the board and keep all the pressure off their defense.
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Will The Bengals Cover The Spread?
The Ravens are 8-4 with Jackson at the controls and 2-3 without him. Tyler Huntley would get the nod after sitting out the regular-season finale as Anthony Brown (19 of 44, two interceptions) struggled.
Huntley hasn’t been horrible, but he’s no Jackson and not only has to deal with the Bengals’ defense but also the crowd.
On the flip side, Baltimore’s defense needs to find a way to rattle Burrow. The Ravens sacked Burrow only twice in each of the regular-season meetings, yet held him to QB ratings of 82.7 and 81. Not too shabby.
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Why The Over Will Hit
Since Cincinnati did very little in the run game last Sunday, there’s a good chance head coach Zac Taylor will try to attack early and often with Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Tyler Boyd & Co. against a hurting Baltimore secondary. Cornerbacks Marcus Peters (calf) and Brandon Stephens (illness) are both listed as questionable.
The Bengals ranked third in the league in passing offense and averaged 24.6 points per game and were even more prolific at home where they went 7-1.
Why The Under Will Hit
Baltimore has long been a defense-first team and this season is no different. The Ravens will look to set the tone in that manner and not take too many offensive risks with either Huntley or a far-from-100 percent Jackson.
If the Bengals jump out to a big early lead, it could change Harbaugh’s game plan. But going in, the Ravens will do everything in their power to keep this a low-scoring scrum.
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Ravens vs. Bengals Prediction
Lean: Bengals -8.5
Huntley threw two touchdowns in six appearances (four starts) and that’s just not going to cut it even though the Ravens have a capable ground game. Don’t expect a blowout, but the Bengals, winners of eight in a row, get the cover.
Tony Bellissimo, with over 25 years of sports reporting and editing experience, has earned multiple New York State Press Association awards and oversees sports coverage for 30 high schools and several colleges on Long Island.
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