Thursday Night Football best bets: Bengals-Ravens

Info from bookmakers and best bets from sharp handicappers for tonight's game

Nov 07, 2024

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people walking on street during night time — Photo by Kvnga on Unsplash

It’s been awhile since we’ve had a legitimately good Thursday Night Football game, but this one tonight should be a doozy. The 6-3 Baltimore Ravens are 6-point home favorites against their AFC North rivals, the 4-5 Cincinnati Bengals. It’s a game that the Bengals desperately need as they try to climb out of an early-season hole in the uber-difficult AFC playoff race, while Baltimore looks to keep rolling behind potential MVP Lamar Jackson.

“We opened Ravens -6 and they’re still at 6.” Thomas Gable, sportsbook director at The Borgata, texted me. “Total has only moved half a point, but we do have more money on the Bengals. It’s decent advance handle, but good two-way action at 6. Little more money on the over. This is a good matchup, and it should be a pretty well-bet game.”

The betting action is split 50-50 in terms of the side at several sportsbooks, with more money on the Ravens to cover at DraftKings, but more money on the Bengals to cover at BetRivers and BetMGM.

“Bettors are all over the Bengals, with the most lopsided action coming at +6.5 and on the moneyline,” Max Meyer, senior editor at Fanatics Sportsbook, said in a press release. “At 6, there’s still Bengals interest but it’s been solid two-way action overall at that number. There is six times more handle on the Bengals than Ravens for moneyline, while Bengals spread leads the way in handle among all TNF wagers. Bettors clearly realize this is an important game if Cincinnati wants to make a playoff push.”

“After last week’s resounding win, betters are leaning towards Baltimore,” Brad Bryant, general manager of Mohegan Sun FanDuel Sportsbook, told me. “Given this is a big divisional game however, if the points Cincinnati is getting as the away team ticks up higher, we could see increased action their way. These two teams had a thriller in Week 6 that went to overtime, though the total in regulation was still high – this could encourage some over bets for this evening as well.”

A few notable trends from ESPN Stats & Information on the game:

Joe Burrow is 12-3 ATS as an underdog of at least 3 points (16-3 ATS if you include the playoffs)
The Ravens are 8-1 to the over this season, the highest over rate in the NFL this season, including a 4-0 mark when Baltimore faces a team with a losing record
Underdogs of at least 6 points are 24-14 ATS this season

Below is some public betting information from several sportsbooks, along with a bunch of best bets for Bengals-Ravens from respected handicappers. I’ll be adding to this file as we approach kickoff.

Good luck tonight!

BetMGM public betting info

Most bet (tickets) Ravens-Bengals player props

Mike Gesicki over 50.5 receiving yards (-115)
Derrick Henry over 18.5 longest rush (-130)
Lamar Jackson over passing yards (-130)
Justin Tucker over 1.5 field goals (-115)
Zay Flowers over 59.5 receiving yards (-125)

Most bet (tickets) Ravens-Bengals players to score anytime touchdown

Mark Andrews +200
Ja’Marr Chase -125
Derrick Henry -300
Zay Flowers +140
Lamar Jackson +150

Most bet (tickets) Ravens-Bengals players to score 1st touchdown

Derrick Henry +325
Ja’Marr Chase +700
Zay Flowers +1000
Mark Andrews +1100
Chase Brown +700

BetRivers

Bengals (+220 ML) at Ravens (-6, -278 ML), O/U 53
Moneyline: 88% money & 83% tickets on Ravens
Spread: 55% money on Bengals, 51% tickets on Ravens
Over/Under: 65% money & 74% tickets on Over

Player props, ranked by largest % of total game handle:
1. Derrick Henry at least 2 TDs (+188) -- 3.2%
2. Derrick Henry anytime TD (-420) -- 1.7%
3. Derrick Henry over 19.5 yds of longest rush (-123) -- 1.6%

Player props, ranked by largest % of total game tickets:
1. Derrick Henry anytime TD (-420) -- 4.4%
2. Ja'Marr Chase anytime TD (-141) -- 2.8%
3. Joe Burrow over 1.5 total TD passes thrown (-165) -- 2.1%