Bengals vs Saints matchup preview and current betting lines
The Cincinnati Bengals are trying to get past the Super Bowl hangover, and while that is way easier said than done, they’ve looked better every week. Their new offensive line needed more time to get into sync, and Joe Burrow will always put you in a position to win.
However, Zac Taylor’s head-scratching decision-making has raised massive questions about this team’s true potential, and it seems like he’s holding back an offense with the potential to be historically explosive and dominant.
The New Orleans Saints, on the other hand, continue to take pride in their defense but not so much in their medical staff, as injuries continue to be a massive reason for concern, and Jameis Winston might be forced to miss another season.
They will have trouble stopping one of the best young QBs and wideout corpses in the league, but Dennis Allen has proven that he learned a trick or two from Sean Payton’s tutelage. Will that be enough? Remains to be seen.
Players to watch:
Joe Mixon: It seems like Joe Mixon is finally starting to get his groove back after a slow start to the season. He’s a true three-down back and a major threat in the RedZone, so the Bengals sure need him to get back on track.
Chris Olave: The rookie out of Ohio State could be in for another big night if Michael Thomas misses another game. Despite some ugly drops, he’s still been the team’s top wideout, regardless of who’s starting at quarterback.
Week 6 Predictions: NFL Bet of the week on Bengals vs Saints
Bengals -1.5
The opening Bengals vs Saints spread have the visitors favored by 1.5 points. That number should be higher considering both teams’ personnel so that only speaks volumes as to how poorly coached the Cincinnati Bengals have been this season.
But as we mentioned before, the Bengals have looked better with every week. They had a chance to beat the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday Night Football, and losing that divisional game was somewhat affordable, all things considered.
Now, they’ll step down in class to face either Andy Dalton or an injured Jameis Winston. And as much as Dalton would love for this to be a revenge game, he wasn’t very good in his prime, and he’s not that much better now, either.
The Bengals have too many weapons, and they’ve done a better job of opening lanes for the running game. They will bring a balanced offense and keep the New Orleans Saints’ stout defense guessing, so they shouldn’t have many problems winning this one.
Under 44
The opening Bengals vs Saints odds have this game sitting at just 44 points, which seems quite fair right now. As we mentioned before, the Saints take pride in their defense and know they’ll have a shot at winning as long as they keep their offense out of the field.
The Saints’ front seven can put the Bengals’ new line to the test with ease, and their DBs are more than capable of holding their own against their speedsters. Of course, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins will always be big-play threats, but we like their chances of limiting at least one of them.
On top of that, the Saints won’t push up the pace offensively. They can’t afford to do that, even if Winston is cleared to play and goes back out there. They need to put the ball in Alvin Kamara’s hands, as both Winston and Dalton are a turnover waiting to happen.
Also, with the Bengals feeding Joe Mixon more often, we believe this game will feature long series with both teams pounding with the running game. That’ll keep the clock running and this game will fall under the total.
FAQs about Bengals vs Saints
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No, they play in different conferences.
He attended Ohio State and LSU.