On Sunday, the 4-9 Cincinnati Bengals host the 6-7 Baltimore Ravens as a 2.5-point underdog. Both teams still have a chance to win the weaker AFC North, but both face an uphill battle to do so. Entering this weekend, ESPN gave the Ravens a 30% chance of making the playoffs, while the Bengals had a 3% chance.
Both scenarios are only possible after winning the AFC North, with the Steelers holding a slim 7-6 lead. Therefore, this game is still very important for both teams. Both teams will have to deal with the extreme cold in Cincinnati this Sunday. Thankfully, both teams are playing outdoors and in more northern climates, but the extreme cold is still a huge impediment to playing your best football.
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Cincinnati Bengals vs Ravens Weather Updates
The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning for Cincinnati Saturday night, but the precipitation should clear before the game begins, giving ground crews enough time to prepare the field. The main problem is the extreme cold, with temperatures expected to reach 14 degrees on Sunday.
The good news is that the winds shouldn’t be gusty, with wind speeds around 5-10 mph. However, even a gentle breeze can sometimes bring the perceived temperature down to zero or below.
What this means for fantasy football, betting
The over/under for this game is one of the highest of the weekend. Initially at 51.5, it fell just 1 percentage point to 50.5. It doesn’t look like Vegas is putting too much of a dent in the cold in this game. I don’t think we need to give it too much importance either. Dealing with Derrick Henry in this cold weather can be a real chore, but taking him down is always a big ask for any player. Overall, I’m not going to let the weather change my opinion of this game’s high scoring potential.