Ravens vs. Bengals Prediction and Odds for Week 18

The Baltimore Ravens will play the Cincinnati Bengals in their season finale in a game that has huge consequences for the division and the AFC.

On Wednesday, the league announced the Ravens-Bengals game would take place in the early window on Sunday, scheduled to start at 1 p.m. ET. Other than the fact that this is a division rivalry, the game carries an enormous amount of weight for Baltimore for two main reasons.

The first is that until the league makes a decision on when/ if the Bengals-Bills game will be rescheduled, the Ravens could still be in play for the AFC North title.

As for the second, even if the league presumably cancels the Bengals-Bills game and the Bengals clinch the division based on their win record, the Ravens still have the No. 5 seed to play for, banking on a Chargers loss later that day.

High stakes. A fierce rivalry. At least one good quarterback. What more could you ask for in Week 18?

Let’s take a look at the latest betting odds.

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.

Ravens vs. Bengals Odds Week 18

According to FanDuel, the Ravens are 6.5-point underdogs on the road against the Bengals in Week 18. The Ravens’ moneyline for the game is set at -300 while the Bengals are the favorites with a +245 moneyline.

The over/under for the game is set at 41.5 total points.

Ravens vs. Bengals Prediction Week 18

It’s been 31 days and counting since Lamar Jackson last stepped onto the field, and it looks like the Ravens may not see him play for the rest of the regular season. Jackson was absent from practice yet again on Wednesday, and Ravens’ coaches remain tight-lipped as ever on his health status.

If Tyler Huntley starts again in Week 18, the Ravens don’t stand much of a chance against the Cincinnati Bengals, though it probably won’t be a bloodbath like last year.

Joe Burrow and the Bengals picked apart Baltimore’s practice squad secondary in their second meeting last season, and since then, the Ravens’ defense has gotten healthier and even made a few upgrades with Roquan Smith and Marcus Williams, among others. Marcus Peters and Calais Campbell could also return in time for Week 18, and those two embody pillars of strength in the team’s pass and run defense.

While Huntley may be able to make a handful of big-boy throws throughout the game and perhaps complete a referee-aided touchdown pass (we all know that Cam Heyward penalty was soft), the Ravens are no match offensively against the uber-efficient Joe Burrow and his elite wideout trifecta.

The last time these two teams met the Ravens eked out a 19-17 win, so we’ll say the Ravens score roughly one fewer touchdown and the Bengals score one more. This one unfortunately goes to Cincinnati, 24-13.