It would appear oddsmakers aren’t buying the hype of the Cincinnati Bengals anymore.
Those Bengals are 3.5-point underdogs on the road against the Denver Broncos this weekend, per Tipico Sportsbook.
It’s at least a little surprising. Home teams usually get about a three-point advantage in spreads. Those Broncos, though, are 7-6 and just behind the Bengals in the AFC playoff outlook. They’re 1-1 over their last two, with the win coming against one-win Detroit. They’re also just 3-5 in the AFC, whereas Cincinnati is 5-3.
Then again, the Bengals have lost two in a row to make it 2-2 since the Week 10 bye. That 5-2 start to the season seems like forever ago now. And while recent losses have featured the Bengals keeping it close, the fact they keep falling behind and can’t consistently just put opponents away is indeed concerning.
Still, when looking at a Joe Burrow vs. Teddy Bridgewater situation and which team might generate the explosive plays necessary to win, the Bengals don’t feel like a terrible roll of the dice here. They have to overcome some big injury issues, but it’s a winnable road game before two straight at home.
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