Saturday's NFL Week 18 betting tips and predictions

Where to watch

Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens
Sky Sports NFL & Sky Sports Main Event, 9.30pm Saturday

Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers
NFL Game Pass via DAZN or Amazon Prime, 1am Saturday night/Sunday morning

Best bets

Under 41.5 points in Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens
3pts 10-11 general

Cincinnati Bengals -1.5
3pts 10-11 Betfair, Paddy Power

Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens predictions

The Baltimore Ravens should have little trouble wrapping up the AFC North title by winning the first of Saturday's two NFL Week 18 games against the Cleveland Browns.

A home win would see the Ravens (11-5) retain their divisional crown and hold off the Steelers, who play in the later game. The motivations of the teams could not be more different, with the Ravens clinching the third seed in the AFC with a win, while the 3-13 Browns are better off losing as an upset victory could cost them a top-three draft pick.

The matchup has attracted the biggest handicap of the NFL season with the Ravens favoured by around 20 points. They have few injury issues and are at home against a Browns team who will be fielding their fourth starting quarterback of the season in Bailey Zappe. The Browns won the teams' first meeting 29-24 with the gunslinging Jameis Winston at quarterback, but they are ending the season with a whimper.

The best bet on the game may be to take the under on total points. Freezing conditions and high winds are forecast, which means the Ravens will likely rely on star running back Derrick Henry and that would keep the clock moving.

The home defence have a great matchup against an offence who have scored only 30 total points in their last four games and the second half could be particularly low-scoring if the home team cruise into a comfortable lead.

The lowdown

Venue M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland
Surface Grass
Weather Clear, 0C
Vegas line Ravens -20
Points line 41.5

Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers predictions

The Pittsburgh Steelers will have to settle for a wildcard place if the Ravens beat the Browns earlier on Saturday, which means the biggest issue at stake at Acrisure Stadium should be whether the Bengals can win to keep their slim playoff hopes alive.

Cincinnati (8-8) need to win and hope that the Broncos and Dolphins both lose on Sunday to sneak into the playoffs and they should be up to the task.

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin is not likely to make it easy for them and says he has no plans to rest his starters as his team bid to shake off a three-game losing streak. Tomlin doesn't want his team limping into the playoffs, and they’re coming off successive defeats by 14, 17 and 19 points.

Bengals QB Joe Burrow and his offence continue to pour it on, averaging 32.4 points per game in their last eight outings, and Zac Taylor's team are on a four-game winning streak. The Steelers' offence has been a problem in their recent losses, scoring just 40 points in the last three games, but both teams scored well in their first meeting.

The Steelers won 44-38 in Week 13, when the Bengals scored more points against the Steelers than any other team this season, and there's no danger of them easing off their effort, as there is with the Steelers, so take the visitors to cover and stay in the playoff hunt for at least one more day.

The lowdown

Venue Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Surface Grass
Weather Chance of snow, -5C
Vegas line Steelers +2
Points line 48

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