This is a big historic AFC North meeting between two major rivals and, as such, the handicap line of circa 11-12 points feels huge. However, the Bengals are awful, they are 0-5 , have given up 21+ points per game and travelled to Arizona and back (5,600km and three hour time diffference) last week to meet another winless team and lost, and confidence must be low , with bodies and minds tired.The Ravens lead the section,  only on 3-2 , but they have scored at an average of 32.2 points pg, at least 23 in each. However it is inside some other numbers that the Ravens advantage really lies. They are averaging 8.4 first downs more than the Bengals per game, giving up 3.2 less, Cincinnati have the 31st ranked rushing defense giving up an awful 167.6 yards per game on the ground, the Ravens have the #2 ranked rushing offense, collecting 192.2 yards pg, which is huge and 25.8 more than the third ranked team, these are really excessive numbers mirroring each other. The only team of similar ability that the Bengals have faced are the 49ers who have the #1 ranked rushing offense (their numbers are very close to the Ravens) and Cincy lost that 41-17, it was in Cincinnati and Niners eased off late in the game. This looks a similarly bad match up for the road team, it could get ugly very quickly and suddenly that handicap line doesn't look too onerous. Baltimore are also averaging 10.6 first half points more than the Bengals and a good chance they can break the back of the handicap early. Ravens have good playoff potential IMO and we have not really seen that yet, but they will want an emphatic and self belief boosting win today ahead of two very tough fixtures, a trip to the West Coast to face Seattle and then a visit from the Patriots. Raven by 2 TD's.

 

 

 

Good Luck.