The Cincinnati Bengals and the Denver Broncos are 7-6 and in a five-game tie for the seventh seed in the NFL playoffs. The team that wins this game will gain a valuable tie-breaker over the other and keep pace with the other three teams vying for the final spot in the postseason.
That’s what makes the Bengals at Broncos NFL betting odds so intriguing. The line shows the Broncos as 2.5 point favorites at Mile High Stadium.
Here are my top wagers for a matchup that the oddsmakers predict to be a nailbiter.
Cincinnati Bengals ML (+120)
Cincinnati’s potent offense ranks 7th in points per game (27.2). However, they’re only 14th in yards per game, meaning they’re good at finishing off drives and making the most of their opportunities. The Bengals score a touchdown 63.16% of the time they get into the red zone. That’s good enough for the eighth-best in the league.
Denver should be able to slow Cincinnati down some with their stalwart defense, though. The Broncos’ defense is 7th in yards allowed per game and holds their opponents to only 17.5 points on average.
I don’t think the Broncos’ offense can do much against the Cincinnati defensive front in this game. Denver is best when they’re running the ball, as they rank 11th in rushing yards per game but only 19th in passing. QB Teddy Bridgewater is also only 20th in QBR this season.
The problem for the Broncos is that their offensive strength plays right into the Bengals’ defensive strength. Cincinnati ranks 4th in rush yards allowed per game and tied for 9th in yards allowed per rush.
So, even though Denver has an excellent defense, I think the Bengals’ potent offense should be able to lead them to a narrow win.
I believe Denver will have difficulty moving the ball in this game, as Cincinnati’s defense excels against the run. Although they’re coming off two disappointing losses, I think this is a great spot to back Cincinnati as the underdog.
Under 44 (-110)
As mentioned, Denver may have a hard time running the ball in this game. Unfortunately, that will make getting points even more challenging for them as they only average 221.9 passing yards per game (19th). They also only average 21.2 points per game.
On the other side, the Bengals should be able to score some, but not much, versus this Denver defense. Aside from the stats already listed, the Broncos only allow 2.0 touchdowns a game on average.
Denver has the 8th best red zone defense, so I expect the Bengals to have difficulty scoring inside the 20-yard line. I believe that this will be a low-scoring game that falls under the points total.
Top Wagers: Bengals at Broncos
Would you rather bet on the total or money line in this Bengals at Broncos matchup? I think the Bengals money line is the safest bet.
Either way, make sure to place your wagers at BetMGM, the best online sportsbook. BetMGM offers the fastest payouts and safest betting options. So, sign up for an account today and check out the promotions tab, where you can get a risk-free first bet of up to $1,000.
