Bengals Colts Betting – Colts Look To Get Back On Track At Home Against Slumping Bengals
After prevailing in three straight and five of their last six, the Indianapolis Colts suffered a 26-24 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles last Sunday. A tough schedule and short rest were enough reasons to excuse the team’s slow start in the close loss at Lincoln Financial Field. That won’t be the situation this weekend at home however, as Peyton Manning and the Colts look to get back on track against the slumping Cincinnati Bengals.
NFL Betting: Cincinnati Bengals @ Indianapolis Colts
Online Sports Betting Odds: Indianapolis - 7
How bad have things gotten in Cincinnati? The Bengals suffered their fifth straight loss when they fell to the Pittsburgh Steelers 27-21 at home Monday night, leaving the team in sole possession of last place in the AFC North less than one year from a division championship. Complicating matters even more is the lack of discipline on the team, and the lingering potential for the entire situation to explode with the distraction of unhappy wide receiver Chad Ochocinco.
Why To Bet On The Bengals?
Despite the unhappiness of his teammate and close friend, Terrell Owens has been solid for Cincinnati this season, producing as quarterback Carson Palmer’s go-to option while keeping his mouth shut on the sideline. Owens will be in the ear of Ochocinco this whole week preparing him for another tough opponent, and if Palmer and his targets can keep the rhythm they established nearly coming back in the fourth quarter against Pittsburgh they have a chance. Despite the sportsbook bonus spotlight being on the offense, it’s the defense that has been the team’s biggest shortcoming this season, and the Bengals’ coverage units will need to do their best impression of last year’s top-ten units.
Why To Bet On The Colts?
Indianapolis hasn’t lost consecutive meaningful games in years, and that won’t change this weekend in front of the home crowd at Lucas Oil Stadium against a 2-6 team. Manning and his teammates admitted a slow start led to their three-game win streak coming to an end last week, and assured the media after the loss that it won’t happen again. The Colts rank seventh in the league against the pass, and with the bag full of fireworks that is the Bengals’ offense ready to explode at the spark of a match, Indianapolis could run away with this one if they can shut them down early on.
How The Game Will Play Out
Just when the football betting world thinks that the Bengals will fall apart, the offense will come up with one of their best performances of the season to keep this one close. The problem for Cincinnati remains on the other side of the ball, where coordinator Mike Zimmer’s units have been a shadow of the defense that finished in the top-ten last season. They won’t let Indianapolis run away with this one however, with the Colts doing just enough to get back in the win column.
Bengals Colts Betting Pick: Bengals
