Cincinnati hosts divisional rival Baltimore at 1 p.m. this Sunday in the first AFC North divisional game of the year. The Bengals are home dogs to one of the most ferocious beasts in the AFC and are looking to avoid falling into an 0-2 hole to start what was supposed to be a promising season.

Baltimore is a big buzz team this week for the way that they manhandled the New York Jets in the Meadowlands on Monday Night Football. Baltimore’s defense was suffocating and the Ravens gutted out a 10-9 win. It was an extremely physical game, and despite the win I’m sure the Ravens were still feeling the Jets when they woke up Tuesday morning.

Cincinnati, on the other hand, still has to be dizzy from its embarrassing opening week performance in Foxboro. The Bengals were down 24-0 to the Patriots before they even knew what hit them and eventually lost, 38-24.

The Bengals were one of the feel-good stories of the NFL in 2009 and entered this season with high expectations. However, that loss last week was their fifth in the last six times they’ve taken the field dating back to last year, and it slid their record at the window to a pathetic 1-8 against the NFL point spread in their last nine contests.

The Bengals dug themselves a big hole last Sunday due mainly to two things. The first was turnovers, including an interception that was returned for a touchdown. But the second key factor was their inability to convert very manageable third downs in the first half against the Patriots. Carson Palmer missed several throws and Cincy was plagued by protection issues on the most important down in football.

Things won’t be easy for Cincy on third down against the Ravens. Baltimore held the Jets to just 1-for-11 on third down Monday night.

As diametrically opposed as these two franchises have been – Baltimore good, Cincinnati bad – the Ravens have actually had a ton of problems against this AFC North foe. Cincinnati swept this series last season for the second time in three years and the third time in the last five seasons. The Bengals are 7-3 both straight up and against the spared in the last 10 meetings despite consistently being an underdog.

Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals Football Betting Odds
This game opened as a ‘pick’ but was quickly bet up to Baltimore -1.5. The Ravens were taking over 70 percent of the early action. The total for this game is set at 40.0.

Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals Betting Trends
Ravens are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 meetings.
Ravens are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 meetings in Cincinnati.
Underdog is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 meetings.
Ravens are 11-1 ATS vs. a team with a losing record.
Bengals are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 vs. AFC North.
Bengals are 7-3 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.

Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals Football Betting Picks and Predictions
I think that there is a lot of value on the ‘under’ in this game. The Bengals were overwhelmed last week in New England and the Patriots looked a step-and-a-half too fast for them. But despite that effort Cincinnati still has one of the more physical and most stout defenses in the conference. They will be looking to redeem themselves this week.

There are no questions about the Baltimore defense, that’s for sure. And even though Anquan Boldin gives the Ravens an offensive weapon that they’ve never had this group still isn’t exactly “explosive”. Also, Baltimore is in a bit of a letdown situation here after playing in the big Monday Night Football spotlight. This is Baltimore’s second straight road game to start the year and I think they may be a step slow.

Also, four of the last five meetings have stayed ‘under’ and seven of the last 10 meetings have seen less than 40 points scored. In their two games last year there were just 31 and 24 points tallied.

Robert Ferringo is a writer and a professional college football and NFL handicapper for Doc’s Sports. Last year he brought home +62.5 Units for his clients for NFL picks and he is regarded as one of the top totals players in the sport. He has turned a profit in 5 of 6 football weeks and has a 7-Unit NFL Game of the Month on the board this Week. You can sign up for his college football and NFL picks and get more information here.