Here are 4 best bets for NFL Week 11, starting with Bengals-Ravens on Thursday night
Welcome to NFL Week 11, which kicks off with the Cincinnati Bengals facing the Baltimore Ravens in primetime on Thursday Night Football (8:15 p.m. Prime Video/WCPO-TV).
This week's game features several contests which could serve as postseason previews or elimination games and is bookended by Thursday's AFC North showdown and Monday night's rematch of Super Bowl 57 between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles.
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Here are four picks for this week:
Baltimore Ravens -3.5 (-110) vs. Cincinnati Bengals +3.5 (-110)
The Ravens still control the AFC North, despite last week's loss to the Cleveland Browns, while the Bengals are trying to avoid being swept by Baltimore in the season series. The Bengals are 0-14 straight up on the road in primetime games since 2013, but are 14-6 against the spread as road underdogs in the Joe Burrow era. Baltimore is 3-2 against the spread as a home favorite this season, 6-4 against the spread overall this season. Cincinnati is 21-15-2 against the spread coming off a loss in the Zac Taylor era while Baltimore is 14-9-1 during that same period.
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The pick: Cincinnati +3.5
The reason: Joe Burrow's record after a loss is among the best in the NFL and the extra half point is above the key number of 3 in division matchups.
Miami Dolphins -13.5 (-110) vs. Las Vegas Raiders +13.5 (-110)
This is an exceptionally high spread in the NFL, but we saw the Dallas Cowboys comfortably cover 17 points last week. The Dolphins are 4-0 as home favorites this season and are the second best team in the league at 6-3 against the spread. On the other side, Las Vegas is coming off two straight outright wins since interim coach Antonio Pierce took over for Josh McDaniels.
The pick: Miami -13.5
The reason: Miami is coming off a bye and the strength of the Raiders' defense is up front. Tyreek Hill and the speed of the Dolphins offense will put them up big early and they'll roll.
Carolina Panthers +10.5 (-110) vs. Dallas Cowboys -10.5 (-110)
Dallas is exceptional at beating bad teams – last week's 49-17 domination over the New York Giants, for instance – and they're playing another bad team this week. While the game is on the road in the 1 p.m. window, this game shouldn't be close. Carolina does have one win against the spread this year, which came at home.
The pick: Dallas -10.5
The reason: Dallas is 2-1 as an away favorite this year and 6-3 against the spread overall.
Kansas City Chiefs -2.5 (-110) vs. Philadelphia Eagles +2.5 (-110)
This is the perfect spot to talk about Andy Reid being the best coach in the NFL after a bye, but that stat comes with a caveat. Yes, Reid is 12-3 as head coach of the Chiefs straight up after a bye, but he's only 7-8 against the spread. He's also 9-0 straight up after a bye with Patrick Mahomes at quarterback, but only 4-5 against the spread. This also is the first game this season in which Philadelphia is an underdog. Philadelphia was 0-1 last year as an underdog.
The pick: Kansas City -2.5
The reason: As long as the game stays under a field goal, the Chiefs are the pick. If money comes in late to move it a full point, the Eagles +3.5 become the pick.
Last week: 3-2
Overall: 6-3-1
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: NFL Week 11 best 4 bets against the spread Bengals, Chiefs, Cowboys
