nfl week 17 picks baltimore ravens
NFL Week 17 Picks Baltimore Ravens Cincinnati Bengals
NFL Week 17 Preview: Baltimore Ravens (-2 ½) @ Cincinnati Bengals
Sports Betting Overview
As the NFL season comes to an end, the schedule makers always try to finish the year
with divisional matchups. The thinking is that any number of these divisional matchups
could have a significant impact on the playoff picture. The Baltimore Ravens need to win
in week 17 to lock up the AFC North title and try to get a first round bye in the playoffs.
A divisional game against the struggling Cleveland Browns would be a great thing for
the Ravens. But the Ravens instead have drawn a game with the Cincinnati Bengals in
Cincinnati. The price per head bookmaking experts are quick to point out that, while
the Ravens need this game to win the AFC North, the Bengals also need this game to
make the playoffs. That may be something that the schedule makers did not expect when
creating this schedule over the summer.
The Bengals need to win this game and it is in the playoffs. The Bengals would have
also liked to have a nice divisional game against the struggling Cleveland Browns to
end the season but were handed the Ravens instead. A Bengals’ loss and a Raiders’ win
could knock the Bengals out of the playoffs if the Raiders do not win the AFC West. It
is complicated. Let’s just say that the price per head services think that the Bengals have
a pretty good shot at winning this game and making it into the playoffs. The Ravens can
still win the AFC North if it loses this game, but the Ravens would need the Steelers to
lose in week 17 and the Steelers have a game against the struggling Cleveland Browns to
end the season. For winning NFL Picks call 1-888-730-2667
Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens barely beat the Cleveland Browns in week 16, and much of the problems for
the Ravens can from the Cleveland running game. Cleveland backup quarterback Seneca
Wallace is an extremely mobile quarterback that gave the Ravens all kinds of problems
in that game. Cincinnati quarterback Andy Dalton is not quite that mobile, but he has a
pretty good offense in front of him. A sportsbook review of the Ravens’s offense versus
the Bengals’ defense in this game shows that the Bengals could completely shut down the
Ravens’ offense if the defense keys in on running back Ray Rice and forces quarterback
Joe Flacco to win the game. Flacco has been inconsistent enough to show that he can be a
weak point in the Ravens’ game.
Cincinnati Bengals
At 9-6, the Bengals are having a much better season than anyone anticipated. The rookie
connection of quarterback Andy Dalton and rookie wide receiver AJ Green is getting
all of the press, but it is that Cincinnati defense that is tilting the NFL scores in favor
of the Bengals. Cincinnati has the sixth-best defense in the league and has become very
good at shutting down the opposing team’s passing game. But the Cincinnati defense has
become even better at closing down the running game. The running game is what keeps
the Baltimore Ravens in most of its games.
The Bottom Line
The Bengals need this game a lot more than the Ravens do, and that can be an added
level of motivation. The only question is whether it will be enough to push the Bengals
past a very determined Baltimore team.
Pick: Baltimore Ravens