Bengals vs. Ravens on Thursday night features one of the biggest Thursday night matchups of the 2024 NFL season. Check out our picks, predictions, and best player props!
Here’s one thing I know. The Bengals are looking more and more like the team many thought we’d see in 2024 and a team that no one will want to see in the playoffs. Thursday night will be an excellent test to see how the surging Bengals stack up against one of the AFC’s best squads.
The Bengals may have dug too deep a hole to claim the AFC North this season, but their playoff hopes remain alive. A win here is crucial. For the Ravens, locked in a tight race with Pittsburgh for the division’s top spot, this game carries postseason weight. It’s the matchup that promises playoff-like intensity—just as it did two weeks ago when Baltimore edged Cincinnati in a 41-38 overtime thriller at Paycor Stadium.
That night, Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow lit up the sky, combining for 716 passing yards and nine touchdowns. But Baltimore’s ground game proved decisive, averaging 5.1 yards per carry compared to Cincinnati’s 3.1. The Ravens have since won and covered three straight games in this series, and their momentum doesn’t stop there.
Now sitting at 4-5 (5-4 ATS, 6-3 O/U), Cincinnati showed signs of life with a 41-24 victory over Las Vegas on Sunday. Meanwhile, Baltimore (6-3 SU, 5-3-1 ATS, 8-1 O/U) made its own statement, dismantling Denver 41-10. The Ravens hold second place in the AFC North, with the Bengals in third.
The stakes couldn’t be higher as these rivals clash again, desperate to keep their playoff paths clear.
We’re coming off of a 3-0 Week 9 Thursday night!
Check out our Bengals vs Ravens picks, predictions, and best bets!
Bengals vs. Ravens Betting Preview
All Bengals vs. Ravens odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook and are correct on Tuesday, Oct. 29.
- Spread: Ravens -6.5
- Moneyline: Bengals +220 | Ravens -270
- Over/Under: 53.5
- Game Time: 8:15 p.m. ET
- Location: M&T Bank Stadium | Baltimore, MD
- Predicted Weather at Kick: 63 degrees, Partly Cloudy
- How to Watch: Amazon Prime Video
Ravens vs. Bengals Picks, Predictions, and Best Player Prop Bets
Cincinnati delivered a commanding win at home against Las Vegas on Sunday, stifling the Raiders to just 217 total yards, including a mere 60 on the ground. The Bengals’ offense was balanced and relentless, with Joe Burrow throwing for a career-high five touchdowns and Chase Brown breaking loose for 120 rushing yards. Yet, for all their dominance, Burrow’s postgame demeanor spoke volumes—this team isn’t content. They know tougher tests lie ahead.
Meanwhile, Baltimore rebounded with authority after a narrow five-point loss to Cleveland, taking care of business against Denver. The Ravens amassed 396 total yards and stifled the Broncos’ offense, holding them to a combined 7-for-19 on third and fourth downs. Lamar Jackson was surgical, completing 16 of 19 passes for 280 yards and three touchdowns, earning a perfect passer rating. And then there was Derrick Henry, grinding out 106 yards on 23 carries, finding the end zone twice, and etching his name in history with his 100th and 101st career rushing touchdowns.
Typically, in these NFC North division battles, I love playing the under. But with how these two teams can move the football, I was eyeing an overplay. But with the total jumping from the opening number of 46.5 all the way up to 53.5, crossing multiple key numbers, and adding possessions that need to be scoring possessions, I’m going to stay away from that.
Yes, the Bengals have only beaten the Giants, Browns, and Raiders during their 3-1 stretch, but I’m starting to believe in Joe Shiesty and his ability to put this team on his back. I think he wills the Bengals in this game all night.
Joe Burrow – QB, Bengals – Over 1.5 Passing TDs (-140)
Joe Shiesty is in a rhythm that few can match. Fresh off a five-touchdown showcase against the Raiders, he’s proving week after week why he’s one of the league’s most dangerous quarterbacks. In six of his last eight games, Burrow has thrown for at least two touchdowns, including another five-score eruption earlier this season against Baltimore.
Yes, he’ll face the Ravens on the road in a hostile environment this time. But Burrow doesn’t flinch. He thrives in the spotlight, impervious to the noise, always poised. That confidence and his precision make him a safe bet to deliver at least two passing touchdowns once again.
Fear a man who looks like this after throwing his 5th TD of the game. #joeburrow pic.twitter.com/tI9BSdnBxZ
— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) November 4, 2024
Baltimore’s defense may have a reputation for being tough, but the numbers tell a different story. They rank 25th in EPA per play allowed this season and an alarming 29th in Dropback EPA per play. The secondary has been the Achilles’ heel, leaving them vulnerable to a quarterback of Burrow’s caliber.
In a game that demands his best, expect Burrow to rise—cool, composed, and ready to carve up a defense searching for answers.
Diontae Johnson – WR, Ravens – Over 21.5 Receiving Yards (-115)
I’m almost shocked at the receiving yard total for Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Diontae Johnso. After a quiet debut that saw him on the field for just 16 snaps without a single target, the oddsmakers seem to think he’ll continue with his reduced role. But make no mistake: Baltimore didn’t acquire Johnson to run as a decoy. Despite sharing the stage with a wealth of offensive talent, Johnson brings versatility and a proven ability to stretch the field. Even in Carolina’s struggling offense, he managed a respectable 10.6 average target depth across seven games.
Alright fine I’ll admit, Diontae Johnson is about to be a problem again in the AFC North, I’m glad he’s back in the division. pic.twitter.com/q6TrBVLsmF
— SteelYinzer (@YinzerofSteel07) October 30, 2024
Expect that role to expand in his second outing. With Lamar Jackson nursing a knee injury, the Ravens may lean more heavily on short and intermediate routes—where Johnson thrives. Jackson’s injury could also mean fewer designed runs, turning potential scrambles into passing opportunities. It’s worth noting Jackson threw for 348 yards on 42 attempts in Baltimore’s overtime thriller against Cincinnati in Week 5. Twenty-two yards could come in one play with him and Lamar.
The Prediction: Bengals 31 – Ravens 27
Best Bets:
- Bengals +6.5
- Joe Burrow OVER 1.5 Passing TDs (-140)
- Diontae Johnson Over 21.5 Receiving Yards (-115)
