NFL Betting Odds, Picks and Predictions for Bengals vs. Broncos
A Bengals team that suddenly looks to be in dire straits sans its star quarterback makes one of the toughest road trips in either conference when it drops in on a Broncos team reeling from two razor-thin losses for this nightcap of a Monday night doubleheader.
With an intriguing set of circumstances at play, we break down odds and best bets for the AFC battle.
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Cincinnati Bengals vs. Denver Broncos Betting Odds
*Best lines at time of writing listed
Moneyline: Bengals +370 (DraftKings) / Broncos -400 (BetMGM)
Point spread: Bengals +7.5 (FanDuel) / Broncos -7.5 (DraftKings)
Totals: Over 43.5 points (FanDuel) / Under 44.5 points (DraftKings)
The Bengals have been big underdogs all along, but Cincinnati's projected disadvantage has naturally only expanded after the Week 3 thumping they suffered at the hands of the Vikings. Cincinnati was at +6.5 before Week 3, and that figure has popped through a key number to +7.5 during the course of the week.
The total has taken a similar path, bouncing within the range of a point. The number was at a modest 44.5 before Week 3 games, and that number bumped down to 43.5 early in the week following Sunday's results. It's since been nudged back up a point.
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Cincinnati Bengals vs. Denver Broncos Betting Picks
Jake Browning went into last Sunday's road game against the Vikings with some confidence, considering he'd had his share of encouraging moments during his late-season starting run in Joe Burrow's stead back in 2023. Browning had also thrown a pair of touchdown passes in emergency duty in Week 2, albeit alongside three interceptions.
Brian Flores' Vikings defense gave Browning and his teammates a splash of cold water, however, limiting Cincy to 171 total yards and 3.3 yards per play in a 48-10 rout. Browning himself threw another pair of picks and compiled only 140 passing yards while taking three sacks. While another week of first-team reps should theoretically help, there's no escaping the monumental challenge of facing the Broncos defense, and on the road no less.
Denver's D has only one interception through three games – a number that's bound to shoot up with the likes of Patrick Surtain, Brandon Jones and Talanoa Hufanga patrolling the secondary. The Broncos do already have 12 sacks. Browning therefore appears highly likely to operate under duress for at least half his dropbacks, and that's a conservative estimate. In contrast, Bo Nix may be ready to snap out of his early-season sophomore slump, as the Bengals are allowing 240.7 passing yards per game and 10.2 yards per completion, along with a 68.1 percent completion rate in their two road contests.
Nix threw for over 175 yards in each of the Broncos' first two games before a date with a tough Chargers secondary in Week 3 that limited him to 153 yards and a 56.0 percent completion rate. The caliber of opposition is certainly less in this game, so a same-game parlay that lowers the spread by two points with the Alt. Spread feature and banks on Nix getting to at least 175 yards is a solid primary option. Additionally, a secondary wager with Nix getting to at least 25 yards in each quarter against a Bengals team that's facilitating the fifth-most opponent plays per game (66.3) is also under consideration.
Bengals vs. Broncos Best Bets:
- SGP: Broncos Alt. Spread -5.5 and Bo Nix 175+ Passing Yards (-104 on FanDuel Sportsbook)
- Bo Nix To Record 25+ Passing Yards in Each Quarter (+125 on FanDuel Sportsbook)
Bengals vs. Broncos Prediction
Broncos 28, Bengals 16
The Bengals are walking into a proverbial hornet's nest in this spot. They will do so with a backup quarterback in Browning whom they still profess faith in but have to have at least a smidgen of doubt about after last week. Unfortunately for Browning, an ornery and talented Denver defense that's underperformed relative to its talent level is going to present as a major obstacle for Cincinnati's offense to build some momentum, leading to what should be a double-digit home win for Sean Payton's squad.
