Bengals vs Titans Preview: Like Watching a One-Legged Race

Bengals Favored Again Despite Joe Burrow’s Status

We’ll do our best to make this Bengals vs Titans preview interesting. If you’re a fan of low-scoring games, maybe bet online on this matchup to go under the 42 points. The public as already steamed the line as it opened at 43.5. The Bengals’ Joe Burrow is still playing with one good leg and its offense has suffered as a result. Still, the sportsbook continues to tout Cincinnati.

Burrow, Bengals Continue to Pay Heavy Price

Burrow’s calf may not be getting any better. Still, the star quarterback chose to go out there and lead his team to a 19-16 victory over the Los Angeles Rams. Even at less than 50%, Burrow did enough to help his team win. The defense, which forced two turnovers, should get the shine. But what Burrow is doing is the type of machismo we need today.

“There is risk to go out there and potentially reinjure it,” Burrow told ESPN. “But there’s also the risk to not go out there and be 0-3. So I wanted to be out there for my guys, and I was confident that I would be able to do what I needed to get the win.”

Calf injuries can lead to something more serious. Just ask Aaron Rodgers who injured his Achilles and is out for the season. Still, with Cincinnati facing a 0-3 hole, they did what they had to do. If Burrow’s stats weren’t so bad, he’d move up the NFL MVP odds. But as it stands, he’s good enough to make the Bengals consistent NFL favorites.

Cincinnati opened as 1.5-point favorites and has been bet down to 2.5 now. This could move down to a whole field goal by kickoff. After all, the defense has been clutch. The Bengals have limited opposing quarterbacks to an 82.8 passer rating despite being the second-worst on the pass rush: a measly 14% pressure rate. Only the Broncos have done worse.

This team may not score a lot of points. But the defense will keep it in games and combined with Burrow’s unwavering leadership, Cincinnati could deliver on the betting lines yet again.

Titans Playing Like It’s 1995

This is your dad’s Titans. Mike Vrabel doesn’t care what year it is or what the Bengals vs Titan previews point out. Tennessee will continue to run and play rugged defense. It would help its case more if it could stop quarterbacks. Deshaun Watson just lit them up like he was back in Houston.

But we can bank on Tennessee to continue to have a tough time scoring. This team is averaging just 15 points per game this season. And going back to its bye week in Week 6 last season, Tennessee has hit the 20-point mark just three times. That’s a big reason why it is just 1-9 in its last 10 games and why the total has gone under in six of the last seven.

Derrick Henry has also lost a step. The once-indomitable running back has struggled to rush for 163 yards with a 3.2 yards-per-attempt stat. That’s due in equal parts to his age (29 with plenty of mileage including a major injury) and the poor blocking from his offensive line.

As such, the football odds continue to underestimate Tennessee. This team has been outgained in all three of its games this season. It is ranked in the bottom five in both passing offense and defense. It’s amazing Tennessee isn’t 0-3.

So like most Bengals vs Titan previews, we can’t recommend playing any part of Tennessee unless it becomes a sizable underdog. Since 2018, Tennessee is 10-6 as a home underdog. There’s that, at least.

For NFL betting news, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.

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