NFL lines, Week 1: 5 best bets

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CINCINNATI, OH – JANUARY 01: Joe Flacco No. 5 of the Baltimore Ravens runs the football upfield against Wallace Gilberry No. 95 of the Cincinnati Bengals during their game at Paul Brown Stadium on January 1, 2017 in Cincinnati, Ohio.The Bengals defeated the Ravens 27-10. (Photo by John Grieshop/Getty Images) /

2. Cincinnati Bengals (-3) vs. Baltimore Ravens

When it comes to best bets, it is usually advantageous to take the points instead of swallowing them in the NFL. Most games are decided within one score anyway, so why not take a slight underdog you think is getting a little overlooked? That is not the case in this matchup between two AFC North rivals in the Cincinnati Bengals and the Baltimore Ravens.

Cincinnati and Baltimore would be a pick ’em on a neutral site. With this game being at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, take the Bengals to cover the three-point spread after a lost season a year ago. Sure, the Bengals will struggle along the offensive line this season, but they have the playmakers offensively that the Ravens do not.

Ravens starting quarterback Joe Flacco may be back in practice for Baltimore, but it was a lot of Ryan Mallett in the preseason for the Ravens. Even with a healthy Flacco under center, the Ravens have been wildly inconsistent offensively during the John Harbaugh era in the Charm City.

Andy Dalton may not be a world beater at quarterback for Cincinnati, but he has a great rapport with many of his weapons. With this game being at home and wide receiver A.J. Green being healthy, this would be a great game for the rebounding Bengals to get 2017 off to a great start. They may only win by a touchdown, but expect the Bengals to cover the three-point spread.