It didn’t quite go according to plan last week, but the Bengals came out of Pittsburgh undefeated and return home to host a struggling Cleveland Browns team.
Given the team’s offensive depth, Cincinnati is pegged as the heavy favorites for this Week 9 opener.
ODDS
BookMaker opened with the Bengals as 10.5-point chalk and the total opened at 47.5. Both have taken a bit of a dip since, with Cincinnati now favored by 10 and the total down to 46.
Even with the hefty spread, the Bengals have the trends on their side. Cincinnati is 6-0-1 ATS this year. The Browns, on the other hand, have dropped three straight games, including two in a row ATS.
In each of those last two games, they lost by at least 14-points.
KEY INJURIES
The Browns have a number of defensive backs sidelined. Joe Haden and Donte Whitner are both questionable for Thursday with concussion concerns while Jordan Poyer and Charles Gaines are also questions.
Add in a rib injury that Josh McCown continues to play through and the team is hindered on both sides of the ball.
Of course, this time of year, injury lists are long for everyone. While the Bengals have their bangs and bruises, they don’t have nearly the number of key players sidelined.
KEY MISMATCH
The Browns hired Mike Pettine as their head coach as a result of his strengths as a defensive coordinator. Given that, it’s a bit of a surprise that the Browns’ defense is so bad, but injuries have taken their toll.
Cleveland is below average against the pass, the worst team against the run and ranks No. 26 in the NFL in total points allowed per game at 27. Cincinnati, meanwhile, is third in the NFL in scoring with 28.3 PPG and sixth with 394 total yards per game.
Andy Dalton has been the key for this Bengals’ offense. The passing game is the headliner with Giovani Bernard and Jeremy Hill combining to compliment the pass with a productive running attack.
Bernard and Hill should be an even bigger part of the game on Thursday given just how bad the Browns are against the run. Dalton also had his first two interception game of the year against the Steelers on Sunday so more rushes could help him get back on track after his 64.7 passer rating.
Before that, his lowest in any game this year was 95.9.
KEY STATS
67.74% - This is the Bengals’ touchdown percentage when in the red zone. It ranks third in the sport behind the Jets and Patriots.
Cincinnati has been so good at putting points on the board, largely by taking advantage of opportunities. Dalton has a number of quality targets and the team also has a strong running game, giving them a number of options to keep opposing defenses guessing.
BETTING ANGLE
The Browns shut down Andy Dalton and the Bengals offense the last time they traveled to Cincinnati, winning last year on November 6, 24-3 to tally their largest victory over the Bengals since 1987.
In that troubling loss for Cincy, Dalton completed just 10-of-33 passes and the team couldn’t do anything offensively.
While the Bengals got back at the Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium a month later with a 30-0 shutout, Cincinnati still got just 117 yards from Dalton who went 14-for-24.
The Browns have had an answer for Dalton and the passing game recently. Fortunately, Hill had a big game the last time these teams met with 148 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Even after the win in Cleveland, the Bengals are out for revenge at home. They’ll be looking to avoid such an embarrassing loss and are unlikely to overlook their divisional foe this time around.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
The Browns have one of the worst defenses in the sport and hardly have a healthy defensive back on the roster. They are dealing with an injured quarterback and a backup that’s mind is likely more on legal troubles than anything else.
The most productive part of the Browns’ team is their running game and while the total yardage is solid, their lead two backs are gaining just 3.2 yards per carry.
There’s little reason to expect much offense from Cleveland while the Bengals are likely to rebound after scoring just 16 against Pittsburgh. Before that, they scored at least 24 each week.
Cincinnati 30, Cleveland 17
BookMaker opened the spread for this Sunday matchup at -10.5 in favor of the Bengals. The NFL odds total surfaced at 47.5. Now you can wager in-game while the action unfolds with BookMaker's live betting option.
Load your betting bankroll from your smartphone or tablet with BookMaker’s new cashier feature! Depositing and withdrawing funds from your account has never been easier. BookMaker's live betting platform means you always have access to odds and lines to every sporting event. Click here and start wagering today! The matchup between the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals will take place Thursday, November 5, 2015, at 8:25 p.m. ET at Paul Brown Stadium. The matchup will be televised live on the NFL Network.
