This upcoming Sunday, October 6, 2024, will see a clash in the AFC North division as the Baltimore Ravens, who hold a 2-2 record, travel to take on the Cincinnati Bengals with a 1-3 record. The game will take place at the Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Bengals find themselves in the somewhat unfamiliar position of being 2.5-point underdogs for this encounter. All the action, set to kickoff at 1:00 p.m. ET, will be broadcasted live by CBS.
If one were to delve into the history of this rivalry, they would find that the last five battles between these two sides have seen the Ravens coming out on top three times, giving them a 3-2 advantage. Interestingly, from a betting perspective, the Ravens have managed to cover the spread in four out of these five encounters.
The total points scored across these five games have often exceeded the point predictions, occurring on four separate instances. In terms of overall points, it’s been a close contest as well, with the Ravens outscoring the Bengals by a mere single point, 113-112, in these recent encounters.
From a betting perspective, the Ravens have had a balanced record thus far in the season, going 2-2-0 against the spread across their four games. Examining their performance depending on their status, they have emerged victorious in two out of three games where they were favorites. Contrastingly, the Bengals have managed to win against the spread in two games this season, also yielding a 2-2-0 record.
Interestingly, this is only the second time this season that the Bengals find themselves as underdogs on the moneyline. On their first outing under these circumstances, they did not manage to secure a victory.
In terms of scoring prowess, the Ravens showcase an impressive track record, ranking fifth in the league for points scored over their last three games, at a commendable rate of 28.7 points per game. Their defense hasn’t been as dominant, though, allowing an average of 20.3 points per game, positioning them 14th in the league.
The Bengals, on the other hand, boast the second-highest number of points scored average over the past three games, managing to rack up 30.7 points per game. However, they’ve struggled to contain their opponents, conceding an average of 29.3 points per game — a record that puts them third from bottom in the league.
Turning our attention to the teams’ physical conditions, the Ravens have several players whose statuses are worth noting. Michael Pierce has been able to fully participate in practices despite a shoulder concern. Arthur Maulet, however, has been ruled out due to a knee injury. Chris Board, Deonte Harris, Rasheen Ali, and Andrew Vorhees all have injury concerns making their participation on Sunday night questionable. Brent Urban, undergoing limited practices because of a neck injury, is another key player to keep an eye on.
On the Bengals’ side, they too are not without their concerns. Full practice participants include Cordell Volson, despite his ankle issue, and Kris Jenkins and Tanner Hudson, recovering from a thumb and knee injury, respectively. Meanwhile, Sheldon Rankins’ participation remains doubtful due to a hamstring injury.
Other Bengals taking limited part in the practice sessions are Germaine Pratt, B.J. Hill, and Trey Hendrickson, all dealing with various injuries. The participation status of Myles Murphy, McKinnley Jackson, and Mike Hilton remains unclear as the weekend approaches, putting them on the questionable list due to knee concerns.
Finally, in a spot of good news for the Bengals, quarterback Joe Burrow has been able to fully participate in practice, despite the recent wrist injury that has been causing concern. His participation on Sunday’s game will be crucial for the Bengals’ offensive plans.
As we approach the big game, both teams will be looking to overcome their injury concerns and bring their best form to the field. On one hand, the Ravens will aim to extend their recent dominance over their AFC North rivals, while on the other, the Bengals will be eager to upset the odds and register a win at their home turf.
With both teams showing strong offensive performances in their last three games, it will also be interesting to see if they manage to outdo their point predictions once again. All in all, as the battleground is set, Paycor Stadium is poised for high-octane action between these two rivals.