Bears v Bengals 2018 NFL Preseason Week 1 Odds

If you’re an NFL betting enthusiast that is looking to cash in on some NFL preseason action and you’re looking for matchups that are offering good value, then consider your ticket punched!

When the Cincinnati Bengals host the Chicago Bears in Week 1, you’re going to have a good opportunity to make a winning wager. While both teams missed out on reaching the playoffs a year ago, both franchises enter the 2018 campaign with some renewed hopes for their own specific reasons. Now, let’s find out where the best betting value lies in this matchup.

Bears v Bengals 2018 NFL Preseason Week 1 Odds

When: Thursday, August 9, 2018 at 7:00 PM ET Where: Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio NFL Odds: OFF

Why Bet on the Chicago Bears?

The best reason to bet on the Chicago Bears in this Week 1 preseason opener is that they’re probably going to be going all-out to get the Matt Nagy era started off on the right foot – and oh yeah, they’ve got the best backup quarterback in this matchup as well. While we probably won’t see second-year starter Mitchell Trubisky play very long in this one, the Bears are going to be in good shape under veteran backup Chase Daniel and after that, veteran Tyler Bray.

Team Statistics

Offense:

Average Score For: 16.50
Total Yards: 287.31
Pass Yards: 175.69
Rush Yards: 111.62

Defense:

Average Score Against: 20
Total Yards: 319.06
Pass Yards: 211
Rush Yards: 108.06

Why Bet on the Cincinnati Bengals?

Are the Bengals a safe bet for NFL Preseason Week 1?

The best reason to bet on Cincinnati is that they’re playing at home and have the better stable of running backs. The Bengals are going with veteran Matt Barkley as their backup in 2018 with Jeff Driskell and Logan Woodside battling for the third-string position. However, after starting running back Joe Mixon departs, Cincinnati will turn to Giovani Bernard and Mark Walton first and foremost. Cincinnati is also the better defensive team in this affair, so there’s that as well.

Team Statistics

Offense:

Average Score For: 18.12
Total Yards: 280.5
Pass Yards: 195.12
Rush Yards: 85.38

Defense:

Average Score Against: 21.81
Total Yards: 339
Pass Yards: 211.19
Rush Yards: 127.81

Expert Analysis and Prediction for Bears v Bengals

While Matt Nagy has no preseason coaching record to look at, we know that Cincinnati has gone 30-31 under longtime head coach Marvin lewis in the preseason, including 1-3 in each of the last two preseasons. That doesn’t really bode well for the Bengals in this affair, plus Chicago has a very capable backup in Chase Daniel.

I’m going with the Bears to get, what looks like a more meaningful win for them over a Cincinnati Bengals team that will be a little more locked-in for their Week 2 and Week 3 preseason contests.

NFL Preseason Week 1 Pick: Chicago 23 Cincinnati 21