The Cincinnati Bengals descend on Nissan Stadium in Week 12 for a rematch of last season’s AFC Divisional playoff game against the Tennessee Titans.
The Bengals upset the then-No.1 seed Titans in the Divisional Round, on the way to a runner-up finish in Super Bowl 56. As they look to make it two wins in a row against Mike Vrabel’s side, they’re getting a nice boost from bookmakers, who’ve cornered this game wholeheartedly in their camp.
But does the betting online market have it right? Are the Bengals the correct favorites on the road against the Titans? Or is it the case (yet again) of the Titans being snubbed by the oddsmakers? After all, this isin’t the first time that they’re being undervalued and underrated, is it?
Let’s check the latest NFL picks, stats, injury reports, and NFL predictions. We’ve plenty of NFL expert picks for you to consider.
Bengals vs Titans
- Spread: Bengals -3 (Ev)
- Moneyline: Bengals -135 | Titans +115
- Over/Under: O 40½ (-110) | U40½ (-110)
NFL Lookaheads to Week 12 NFL Odds & Lines
The market for this game has gone through several changes since preseason lookaheads offered up their first take on this matchup at the sportsbook exchange.
Initially, bookmakers pegged the Bengals vs Titans ona PK line. Last week’s lookaheads projected this game in Cincinnati’s camp with the Bengals tipped at -2. Then, the official Week 12 line opened with the Bengals at -1½.
Over the course of the week, this line oscillated between -1 and -3. The Bengals dipped as low as -1 as early bettors jumped on the Titans. However, by midweek, the line jumped back out to Bengals -3 following encouraging reports that suggested Ja’Marr Chase could return to the starting lineup in Nashville this weekend. This line could experience more changes before Sunday’s kick-off, so if you like the odds as they are right now, grab them while you still can.
Bengals On A Roll
The Bengals took care of business against divisional rivals the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 11, taking the 37-30 win on the road to cover as the firm 3½-point road chalk.
After a 0-2 SU start, the Bengals righted the ship in Week 3. Since then, they are on a roll and have won six of their last eight games to improve to a 6-4-0 record. Currently, they’re second in the AFC North behind the Baltimore Ravens (7-3-0).
From an NFL betting perspective, the Bengals are the second-best team versus the point spread with a 7-3-0 ATS record that is underpinned by a 5.0 winning margin on average. On the road,, they are 4-2-0 ATS with a 0.3 winning margin on average.
🚨 10,000 career yards 🚨@JoeyB is the third fastest in NFL history to reach this milestone. pic.twitter.com/kI0ygHbOI1
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) November 20, 2022
Titans Coasting Under the Radar
Just like the Bengals, the Titans got off to a slow start in 2022 and lost their first two games. Since then, however, they’ve reeled off seven wins in their last eight games to improve to a solid 7-3-0 record and first place in the AFC South.
Importantly, the only loss during this stretch of impressive form featured Malik Willis as the starter. But even then it was a close game decided by three points and breathtaking late-game heroics by Patrick Mahomes that left the Titans stunned.
Recently, the Titans delivered a comprehensive 27-17 win over the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on Thursday Night Football. Tannehill and Company dominated the Packers and defied the NFL odds to come through as the +3 road underdogs.
On the season, the Titans are a league-best 8-2-0 ATS with a 0.8 winning margin on average. At home, they are 3-1-0 ATS with a 4.5 winning margin.
Titans have won the last 6 games Ryan Tannehill has started pic.twitter.com/vIIhYjbNrR
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) November 18, 2022
Bengals vs Titans Prediction
Little separates the Bengals and Titans in terms of how their season has unfolded so far. They’re both in good form and come into this Week 12 contest on the back of respective winning accounts in Week 11. Plus, they’re the top two teams versus the spread going into Week 12.
- But something’s gotta give, right?
The NFL odds are showing Joe Burrow and the Bengals offense a lot of respect in the face of a confident and bruising Titans defense. At the same time, they’re showing Ryan Tannehill, Derrick Henry, and the unassuming Titans offense barely any respect at all.
This isn’t the first time. The Titans are repeatedly being underrated especially against the top teams and/or contenders in the league. And yet, they rise above it all in a convincing, modest fashion.
In theory, bettors could do no worse than back either of these two teams for their NFL picks. The way Burrow and Tannehill are playing right now inspires a lot of confidence in these teams.
That said, the Titans feel like the value bet here to cover if not pull off the outright upset. Put it this way: To have a team that has won seven of its last eight games sitting in plus money (ML +115) is too tempting to ignore.
If you are sitting on the fence here, then betting the point spread might be the better option. To be spotted a field goal with the Titans, essentially getting a point and a half more on the opening line is a gift. It’s often said that you should never stare a gift horse in the mouth.
“The odds and predictions in the article are based on the time of writing and publication. They may differ as to when the actual event takes place.”
