The Bengals (+4.5) are gearing up to welcome the New Orleans Saints (-4.5) to Paul Brown Stadium. This critical early afternoon game will start at 1:00 p.m. ET and fans can catch it live by tuning in to FOX.
Betting Preview: New Orleans Saints at Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati enters this matchup as the underdog and is currently being given 4.5 points. The Saints are also receiving -180 moneyline odds while the Bengals are +160. Vegas has placed the over/under (O/U) at 54.5 points, and multiple decent in-game betting opportunities might exist during this match.
The game’s total has swung lower after opening at 55.5. The original line has yet to change.
Each of these teams has rewarded gamblers this year as the Saints have gained 2.8 units while the Bengals are up 2.0 units.
The Saints are 7-1 straight up (SU) in 2018 while the Bengals are 5-3 SU.
The Saints are coming off a 45-35 victory over the Rams last week in which Drew Brees completed 25 passes for 346 yards and four touchdowns. Alvin Kamara (82 yards on 19 rushes, two TDs) led the ground attack in the win while Michael Thomas (12 receptions, 211 yards, one TD) and Kamara (four catches, 34 yards, one TD) handled the receiving duties.
Cincinnati just put together a 37-34 win over Tampa Bay. The defense allowed the Buccaneers to pass for 470 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 126 yards. Mike Evans torched the defense, recording 179 yards on six catches for Tampa Bay. For Cincinnati, Andy Dalton completed 21-of-34 passes for 280 yards and two touchdowns. Joe Mixon (123 yards on 21 rush attempts, two TDs) mounted the ground attack in the win as Tyler Boyd (nine receptions, 138 yards, one TD) and A.J. Green (five catches, 76 yards, one TD) led the pass-catching corps.
New Orleans has run the ball on 44.8 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Cincinnati has an overall rush percentage of 36.3 percent. The Saints have run for 112.1 yards/game and have 14 scores via handoffs this year. The Bengals are logging 92.8 rushing yards per game and have seven total rush TDs.
The Saints offensive scheme has averaged 298.8 yards in the air overall and has 18 passing scores so far. The Bengals have put up 267.6 pass yards per game and have 17 total pass TDs.
Defensively, New Orleans has let opponents run for an average of 76.4 yards and throw for 325.1 yards per game. The Cincinnati defense has allowed 330.8 yards per game to opposing passers and 128.4 yards per game on the ground. The Bengals are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of 6.81 to opposing QBs, while the Saints have given up a whopping 8.59 ANY/A.
Offensively, Brees has already amassed 2,216 passing yards this year, and has connected on 195-of-256 attempts with 17 scores through the air and has yet to throw an interception. Brees has a sparkling 9.38 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 8.83 over the last two games.
In the hosts’ locker room, Andy Dalton has managed to complete 170-of-263 passes for 1,954 yards, 16 TDs and seven INTs. Dalton’s ANY/A stands at 6.65 for the year and 6.18 across his last two games.
New Orleans Saints vs. Cincinnati Bengals Betting Prediction
SU Winner: Saints, ATS Winner: Bengals, O/U: Over
Team Betting Notes
- The Saints offense has recorded three pass plays of 40 or more yards, while the Bengals have put up one such play.
- The New Orleans defense has allowed nine pass plays of 40 yards or more, while Cincinnati has given up seven such plays.
- The New Orleans offense has created two rushing plays of 20 yards or more, while Cincinnati has created seven such runs.
- The Saints defense has allowed three rushing plays of 20+ yards, while the Bengals have given up seven such runs.
- The Cincinnati defensive unit has sacked opposing QBs 21 times this season. New Orleans has recorded 17 sacks.
- New Orleans has produced 3.7 yards per carry over its last three contests and 3.9 over its last two.
- Cincinnati has averaged 4.5 yards per carry over its last three outings and 4.4 over its last two.
