Baltimore Ravens vs. Cincinnati Bengals: Betting odds, Week 17 pick, preview

The Cincinnati Bengals are 8-3 SU and 7-4 ATS over their last 11 games and can end the Baltimore Ravens’ playoff hopes with a win over the Ravens at home on Sunday.

The Bengals were a 6-point favorite in Cincinnati as of Thursday at Sports Interaction.

And if recent history repeats itself, the Bengals will cover as they are perfect at home in 2013 and 10-1 SU and ATS in their past 11 home games.

After suffering a disappointing 30-20 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Cincinnati Bengals bounced back nicely last week with a 42-14 win at home over the Minnesota Vikings. The Bengals have scored at least 41 points in three of their last five games, and are 4-1 SU and ATS over that stretch as well.

If the Bengals win this game and Buffalo upsets New England, Cincinnati would earn the No. 2 seed in the AFC.

The Baltimore Ravens took a four-game winning streak into its game against New England last week, but hit a wall against the Patriots in a 41-7 loss at home. The loss put the Ravens on the outside looking in for a playoff spot, and the defending champions now need help to make the postseason.

If Baltimore is able to upset the Bengals, the Ravens would make the postseason if San Diego or Miami loses on Sunday.

Baltimore is 5-1 SU and 3-2-1 ATS against the NFL point spread in its last six games against Cincinnati, which includes a 20-17 win over the Bengals back in November in Baltimore. The total has gone UNDER in six of the last nine meetings between these AFC North rivals and in each of the last two meetings.

With their playoff life on the line, the Baltimore Ravens obviously need this game more than the Cincinnati Bengals do.

But Cincinnati shouldn’t be taking this game lightly either; the Bengals have lost in the first round of the playoffs in each of the last two seasons and would love to enter the playoffs with momentum in 2013.

Six of the last seven games between these two teams have been decided by a touchdown or less, and this should be another hard-fought one on Sunday.

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