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Carrie Stroup here with your Cincinnati Bengals vs. Baltimore Ravens betting odds for this MNF Week 1 doubleheader, which had the Ravens as a -6.5 favorite at home at Sportsbook.com.
Sportsbook.ag Line & Total: Baltimore -7.5 & 41.5
Opening Line & Total: Ravens -6.5 & 41
Division rivals trying to repeat their playoff seasons from a year ago square off in the first Monday night game of the season when the Ravens host the Bengals.
Cincinnati went 9-0 SU against non-playoff teams last year, and 0-8 versus the league’s best. WR A.J. Green is an exceptional talent and QB Andy Dalton was better than expected as rookie. Dalton threw three interceptions in Baltimore last year, but nearly led a late comeback in the Bengals 31-24 loss. Ravens QB Joe Flacco will get to run a more aggressive, up-tempo offense. WR Torrey Smith may emerge as the game-breaking deep threat they’ve always lacked, while RB Ray Rice’s versatility keeps drives moving. OLB Terrell Suggs (Achilles) will be missed though, as the Ravens will struggle to replace his pass-rushing prowess.
Baltimore is simply the better team in all facets here, and the Bengals have no answer for Rice who has 423 total yards and 5 TD during his team's three-game win streak in this series. Also, John Harbaugh is 10-2 ATS (83%) as a home favorite of seven points or less as the Ravens head coach.
Cincy’s offensive line provided great protection for Dalton last year, as he was sacked just 24 times all year. However, the Ravens have a daunting pass rush with 48 sacks in 2011, which tied them for third-most in the NFL. The Bengals still figure to be a run-oriented offense with newcomer BenJarvus Green-Ellis carrying the majority of the workload. Bernard Scott also figures to play a prominent role in the ground game, but he will not play on Monday as he continues to recover from hand surgery performed last month. Defensively, Cincinnati sported a top-10 defense in terms of both scoring defense (20.2 PPG, 9th in NFL) and total defense (316 YPG, 7th in league) last year. The front seven provided constant pressure on opposing quarterbacks last year with 45 sacks (5th in NFL), but the secondary does not play the ball very often, picking off just 10 passes in the entire 2011 season.
Despite a 5-3 record against the Bengals, Flacco has not played particularly well in this series, averaging just 184 passing YPG with 7 TD and 10 INT. The maturation of the speedy Torrey Smith allows reliable WR Anquan Boldin to run his routes underneath. Although both TEs Dennis Pitta (hand surgery) and Ed Dickson (shoulder) have been limited in the preseason, both are expected to suit up on Monday night and both will play a major role in the passing game. Rice is a three-down back, but when he needs a rest, rookie Bernard Pierce will replace him in the backfield. This defense will miss the injured Suggs, but DT Haloti Ngata, LB Ray Lewis and S Ed Reed are veterans still performing at a high level. This trio helped the Ravens finish third in the NFL in both scoring defense (16.6 PPG) and total defense (289 YPG) last year.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
