Ravens vs. Bengals Prop Bets and Anytime Touchdown Scorers: Chase Looks for NFL Playoff Paydirt

Well, it’s official. Lamar Jackson will not play in Sunday’s night’s NFL Playoff game against the Bengals, as the star QB continues to be hobbled by a PCL sprain. That’s a big blow to Ravens fans, and it dims the light of what would have been one of the most exciting matchups of Wild Card Weekend. However, the game goes on, and Jackson’s absence leads to new and interesting ways for bettors to approach this AFC postseason contest.

With the Bengals now even bigger favorites, we’ve outlined a few prop bets and anytime touchdown scorers to consider to help keep the game exciting for you, and hopefully result in a profit on your sports betting app.

Ravens vs. Bengals Betting Lines

Here are odds from top sportsbook apps on this Sunday night showcase.

Ravens vs. Bengals Game Props

The good news for sports bettors is that who wins the game doesn’t necessarily impact the game and player prop bets below. Consider the following options.

Caesars: First Scoring Play is a Bengals Touchdown (+114) or a Bengals Field Goal (+290)

The Bengals have home-field advantage and are looking to put the Ravens away quickly. In their last eight games of the season, they went 8-0 and scored first in six of the eight matchups. That’s a trend that will most likely continue in this one, especially considering the Ravens are forced to start a backup QB against one of the best defenses in the league.

Those six times Cincinnati scored first were split between touchdowns and field goals. We’re leaning toward the field goal to start the game due to the nearly 3-to-1 odds and the Bengals’ sack issues. The Ravens are sixth in the league in sacks, and that pressure may be enough to slow the Bengals down at the start when the Ravens are most motivated.

Also read: How sharp bettors are approaching opening weekend of NFL Playoffs

BetMGM: Bengals to Win by 13 to 18 Points (+350)

Anything can happen, but the Ravens pulling off the upset would be one of the biggest NFL playoff upsets in the last decade. So, the question here is how much will the Bengals’ margin of victory be? In the last game of the season, the Bengals beat the Ravens by 11 points in Cincinnati. Joe Burrow had a pedestrian game, considering how impressive the second half of the season was for him.

The difference in this one is that it’s a playoff game. Second- or third-string QBs don’t have a great reputation in playoff games, and that alone should be good for the extra couple of points to increase the victory margin in this one. The likelihood of it ballooning to more than 18 seems small considering how often these teams see each other.

Bookies Battle: Expert picks for NFL Playoffs

Player Props for Ravens vs. Bengals Wild Card Game

While playoff games between divisional rivals are always fun, seeing each other multiple times a year can lead to lower scores. Will that be the case in this one?

Bengals Player Props & TD Scorers

FanDuel: Ja’Marr Chase Anytime TD Scorer (-105)

Chase is without a doubt going to be a focal point of the Ravens defense. However, the Bengals will still give him a chance to make plays, especially in the red zone. With a backup at QB for the Ravens, the Bengals may also get some extra possessions due to the turnovers. Extra possessions equal extra targets for Chase.

Additionally, the Bengals don’t want to get too comfortable with allowing teams to force them to go away from Chase, so getting freeing him up may be top of mind in a game where they are heavy favorites.

DraftKings: Joe Burrow to Pass for Under 267 Yards (-115)

In two games against the Ravens this season, Burrow has passed for fewer than 220 yards on 35 and 42 attempts. He has also threw for only one touchdown in each games. A third bite at the apple may not bear fruit for his passing yards either, as the Ravens are among the best at getting after the passer.

The Bengals will find ways to score, but that won’t require a great day through the air for Burrow. The type of success the Ravens have had against Burrow and company isn’t an accident.

Also read: How public bettors are playing Wild Card Weekend

Ravens Player Props

With so much uncertainty around the Ravens offense, it’s probably a safe bet to avoid wagering on them in this one. They’re probably good for one touchdown and a few field goals in this game, and there isn’t much to lean on to decipher who that touchdown would come from. The one touchdown they scored in the last game of the season came from Kenyon Drake, who has only four touchdowns this year.

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