49ers Bengals Betting – Bengals Look To Take Advantage Of Weak Schedule
Despite losing their franchise quarterback and No. 1 wide receiver this past offseason, the Cincinnati Bengals could very well be 2-0 heading into week three. The Bengals fell 24-22 to the Denver Broncos on the road this past Sunday to fall to 1-1, and will look to get back on track this sports betting bonus weekend against another opponent that could be 2-0 in the San Francisco 49ers.
San Francisco 49ers @ Cincinnati Bengals
Sunday September 25, 2011 – 1:00 PM ET
Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio
NFL Betting Lines: Cincinnati Bengals – 2.5
The 49ers are in a similar situation to the Bengals after opening with a win over the division rival Seattle Seahawks, and then losing a close game to the Dallas Cowboys. Niether of these teams has a ton of talent on either side of the ball, and this game could come down to which team makes more plays.
NFL Betting Preview: San Francisco 49ers
Even though he has shown flashes, the 49ers remain hesitant to put the ball in the hands of quarterback Alex Smith, who remains the starter in San Francisco simply because there is nobody else available. Smith will never live up to his status as a former first overall pick, and at this point head coach Jim Harbaugh is content to let him be a game manager. San Francisco will continue to try and run the ball and open up pass plays underneath, while hoping that playmakers such as Frank Gore and Ted Ginn Jr. can make big gains. The 49ers’ defense has made plays against the run early on, but they have also been exposed against the pass and will need to generate more quarterback pressure up front.
NFL Betting Preview: Cincinnati Bengals
Even despite a relatively mediocre roster, the Bengals still have a chance to compete for a playoff spot with one of the conference’s easier schedules. Cincinnati plays back-to-back home games against the Broncos and Buffalo Bills, then at the Jacksonville Jaguars, then back home against the Indianapolis Colts without Peyton Manning so there is room for them to make a run. Those chances will rely heavily on the play of quarterback Andy Dalton and running back Cedric Benson, both of which have looked good early on but need to take their game to a higher level. Cincinnati has looked good on defense in coverage but there are still too many holes up the middle, and that is something that they need to improve to keep San Francisco from taking advantage.
NFL Betting Preview: Outlook & Pick
Even with a limited roster, the Bengals can still take advantage of a weak sports betting schedule and remain in contention. The same can be said about a 49ers’ team that plays in a division in which the winner from a year ago clinched with a 7-9 record. Unfortunately for San Francisco, they do not have the firepower to make an impact on the road just yet, and will not be able to keep up after making the trip from the west coast.
NFL Betting Pick: Cincinnati Bengals – 2.5
