The Denver Broncos (-4.5) are flying east to face the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. CBS will televise the action and this early afternoon game is scheduled to get going at 1:00 p.m. ET.
Denver Broncos at Cincinnati Bengals Betting Preview
Cincinnati is a live dog in this one and is currently getting 4.5 points. The Broncos are also receiving -180 moneyline odds while the Bengals are +160. If one team finds paydirt early it would generate a decent betting opportunity in-game. Oddsmakers have determined the over/under (O/U) to be 43.5 points.
This game’s line opened at 4. The O/U hasn’t moved after it was initially set at 43.5.
The Broncos have recorded 0.3 units so far and are 5-5-1 against the spread (ATS). They’ve been a good under bet and have recorded an O/U mark of 3-8. The Bengals have lost 1.1 units for moneyline bettors this season. They’re 5-6 ATS and the over’s hit in eight of their games.
The Broncos are 5-6 straight up (SU) in 2018 while the Bengals are also 5-6 SU.
When these two franchises faced one another last year, Cincinnati knocked off Denver by a field goal 20-17.
Cincinnati comes into this contest on a zero-game winning streak while Denver has lost each of its last zero. The Broncos got their second W in as many tries after a 24-17 victory over Pittsburgh last week where Case Keenum completed only 15-of-28 passes for 197 yards and two touchdowns. Phillip Lindsay (110 rushing yards on 14 attempts, one TD) led the ground attack while Emmanuel Sanders (seven receptions, 86 yards, one TD) and Matt LaCosse (three catches, 34 yards, one TD) manned the receiving duties in the win.
Cincinnati just suffered a 35-20 defeat to Cleveland a week ago. As a group, the team collectively completed 27-of-46 passes for 255 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Jeff Driskel went 17-for-29 for 155 yards and one touchdown while Andy Dalton was 10-of-17 for 100 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Joe Mixon (89 yards on 14 rush attempts) mounted the running attack as Tyler Boyd (seven receptions, 85 yards, one TD) led the pass-catching corps in the loss.
Denver has run the ball on 40.2 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Cincinnati has a rush percentage of 35.5 percent. The Broncos have rushed for 125 yards/game and have 14 scores on the ground this year. The Bengals are putting up 94 rushing yards per game and have 10 total rush TDs.
The Broncos offense has averaged 258 yards through the air overall and has 14 passing TDs so far. The Bengals have put up 255 pass yards per game and have 22 total pass scores.
On the defensive side of the ball, Denver should have the upper hand in both facets. The team has allowed 123 rush yards and 286 pass yards per game. The Cincinnati D has given up 301.7 yards per game to opposing passers and 147.5 yards per game on the ground. The Broncos are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 6.47 to opposing QBs, while the Bengals have given up a 7.37 ANY/A.
Passing-wise, Keenum is up to 2,597 yards on the year, and has connected on 63 percent of his 358 attempts with 13 passing scores and 10 interceptions. Keenum has a 5.78 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 6.92 over the last two outings.
As a group, Phillip Lindsay, Emmanuel Sanders and Courtland Sutton have combined to account for 456 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns over the last two outings.
Andy Dalton has connected on 207-of-329 passes for 2,355 yards, 19 TDs and 11 INTs for Cincinnati. His ANY/A sits at 5.98 for the year and 5.96 over his last two games.
We also expect the Cincinnati offense to try for a balanced attack this Sunday. Joe Mixon (659 rushing yards, four rush TDs, 205 receiving yards, one receiving touchdown this season), Tyler Boyd (770 receiving yards, six receiving TDs) and C.J. Uzomah (246 receiving yards, two receiving TDs) have combined for 443 total yards and two touchdowns over the past two games.
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Notes
Betting Trends
The Denver defensive unit has sacked opposing quarterbacks 33 times this year. Cincinnati has recorded just 24 sacks.
Both teams have lost two fumbles this season.
The Broncos offense has tallied eight pass plays of 40 yards or more, while the Bengals have put up one such play.
The Denver defense has allowed seven pass plays of 40+ yards, while Cincinnati has given up eight such plays.
The Denver offense has created 10 rushing plays of 20 yards or more, while Cincinnati has created 11 such runs.
Both teams have allowed 11 rushing plays of 20 or more yards. The Broncos have given up 29 running plays of 10+ yards while the Bengals have given up 44 such plays.
The Over/Under for Cincinnati’s last matchup was set at 47. The over cashed in that 35-20 loss to Cleveland.
In its last three games, Cincinnati is 1-2 ATS and the over cashed in each of those three.
In its last three contests, Denver is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in each of those three.
Cincinnati has lost six of its last seven games SU, with a three-point win over Tampa Bay on October 28th representing its one victory over that span.
The O/U for Denver’s last game going into it was 48. The under cashed in the team’s 24-17 victory over Pittsburgh.
Denver has rushed for 5.0 yards per attempt over its past three outings and 5.5 over its last two.
Cincinnati has averaged 5.5 yards per carry over its last three contests and 4.9 over its last two.
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