Bears vs Bengals Odds - No pass rush means no stopping Jay Cutler
The Bears vs Bengals odds feature two teams struggling to find their identity. NFL betting fans know Chicago and Cincinnati have plenty of talent and potential, but consistency is a big problem. Every time we declare the Bears and Bengals contenders, they lose. What will happen in Cincy this week?
Bears vs Bengals Odds: Bengals -1 (Total: 43.5)
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Bears vs Bengals odds maker breakdown: The Storyline
Football fans can be fickle. The Cardiac Cats were the talk of the league after downing Baltimore in Week 5 to become 4-1. Now, after Cincy’s loss to Houston, some experts are already predicting a sudden demise. Can Cincy quiet the online sports betting critics? The Bears need a win to keep pace with Minnesota and Green Bay in the competitive NFC North.
Bears vs Bengals odds maker breakdown: Offense
Both teams have been competent this season without setting the world on fire but the Bears were expected to do more. Jay Cutler has been decent considering his subpar group of receivers but needs to take better care of the football. He leads the NFL in redzone interceptions over the last two seasons. Will Matt Forte ever get going in the backfield? He hasn’t exactly had massive running lanes but isn’t hitting holes with authority. Cedric Benson has been the key cog in Cincy’s offense this season but is coming back to Earth, topping 100 rushing yards once in his last four games. Considering that the Bengals have protected Carson Palmer reasonably well of late, allowing one sack in two straight contests, Carson Palmer has been a disappointment. Part of the problem is that the Bengals lack big-play potential; even Chad Ochocinco doesn’t get behind defenders the way he used to. Because Johnny Knox and Devin Hester give the Bears better home-run threats, they have a slight offensive edge. Betting Edge: Bears
Bears vs Bengals odds maker breakdown: Defense
Before Matt Schaub and the Houston Texans lit them up last week, the Bengals were playing solid defense. They’re one of the AFC’s best run-stopping teams and rank fourth in the NFL with 16 sacks. However, six of those sacks came in one game, five from Antwan Odom, and the Bengals just lost Odom for the season. The Bears can be passed on, as Matt Ryan showed last Sunday night, but they’re stopping the run excellently, even without Brian Urlacher. They’ll key on Benson and force Palmer to beat them through the air. Odom’s absence gives Chicago a tiny leg up defensively. Betting Edge: Bears
Bears vs Bengals odds for total: 43.5
Neither team lights up the scoreboard save for cupcake matchups (like the Bears had against Detroit); they simply make too many little offensive mistakes to post big numbers and both play decent enough defense to put a lid on each other. Expect the Bears and Bengals to fall just short of the 43.5-point total. Pick: Under 43.5
Bears vs Bengals odds maker breakdown: Notable Injuries
Urlacher’s absence is major in theory but hasn’t hurt Chicago’s sportsbook odds as much as expected. Odom’s torn Achilles really damages the Bengal pass rush; Cutler could carve them up if he has all day to throw. Betting Edge: Bears
Bears vs Bengals betting breakdown: Outlook and Pick
We’ve seen that the Bengals can play competitive football. Now it’s time to find out how much resolve they have. They get the Bears, Ravens again and Steelers in the next three weeks. Since their “D” is slipping and they’re facing an offense with big-play ability, I don’t think they can keep pace – even at home. Bet on the Bears. STAN’S PICK: Bears +1
Check out our sportsbook for full Bears vs Bengals odds and keep reading the Betting Edge at betonline.com for in-depth sports betting analysis. Stan Simmons is one of betonline.com's NFL experts.
