Are the Bengals a Safe NFL Betting Pick vs. the Colts in Week 8?

Are the Bengals a Safe NFL Betting Pick vs. the Colts in Week 8?

Written by on October 26, 2017

The Indianapolis Colts are a mess. Andrew Luck isn’t coming back anytime soon and this is clearly the worst team in the AFC South. The Cincinnati Bengals’ only shot at the playoffs is likely the wild card and they can’t afford to lose a game like this as a double-digit NFL betting favorite. The betting odds have the Bengals at -10.

Indianapolis at Cincinnati Week 8 Odds & NFL Betting Pick

When: Sunday, 1 PM ET Where: Paul Brown Stadium TV: CBS Radio: 93.5 FM (Indianapolis) / 102.7 FM (Cincinnati) Stream Option: NFL Live Opening NFL Betting Lines: Bengals -10 (41)

Weather Forecast

  • Mostly Cloudy: 7°C/44°F
  • Humidity: 62%
  • Precipitation: 15%
  • Wind: 10 mph WSW
  • Cloud Cover: 74%
  • Type of Stadium: Open

Last Meeting

The contest will mark the 28th all-time regular season meeting between the teams, with Indianapolis leading the series, 17-10. The last meeting was actually in the wild-card game following the 2014 season. Indy won 26-10. Luck threw for 376 yards and a touchdown. Andy Dalton was just 18 of 35 for 155 yards and a lost fumble.

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Series History

  • Total Meetings: 29
  • First Meeting: December 26th, 1970. Memorial Stadium. Baltimore, Maryland
  • Last Meeting: January 4th, 2015. Lucas Oil Stadium. Indianapolis, Indiana
  • All-Time Series: Indianapolis Colts 19-10-0
  • Largest Margin of Victory: Indianapolis 35-3 (2008)
  • Longest Win Streak: Indianapolis 7 (1998-2010)
  • Current Win Streak: Indianapolis 2 (2014-2015)

Why Bet On Indianapolis?

Last week, the Colts hosted the Jacksonville Jaguars and were defeated 27-0. The Jaguars scored on their first four possessions of the game and maintained a 20-0 lead at halftime. Both teams were held scoreless in the final quarter. Colts quarterback Jacoby Brissett completed 22-of-37 passes for 200 yards again in place of Luck. Tight end Jack Doyle led the team in receiving with six receptions for 44 yards. It’s the first time Indy shuts out in 24 years. The Colts lost three defensive starters in the first half of their loss. Rashaan Melvin, who has been the team’s best cornerback this season, left the game in the first half with a concussion. Chris Milton replaced Melvin at cornerback. Rookie safety Malik Hooker, who has three interceptions this season, gets an injury while trying to make a tackle. He’s done for the year. Linebacker John Simon suffered a stinger late in the first half. With the start this week against the Bengals, Frank Gore will become the first running back to start 100 consecutive games since Curtis Martin started 119 straight games from 1998-2005. With one 100-yard rushing performance he would tie O.J. Simpson (42) for the 16th-most in NFL history. Gore needs four carries to pass Barry Sanders (3,062) for sixth on the NFL’s all-time list. Gore needs two rushing touchdowns to tie Ricky Watters (78) for 20th on With one reception, Indy’s TY Hilton he will have caught at least one pass in 40 consecutive games which would pass Bill Brooks for 10th in franchise history. Kicker Adam Vinatieri needs 11 points to tie Gary Anderson (2,434) for the second most points in NFL history.

Team Statistics

Offense:
  • Average Score For: 17
  • Total Yards: 291.29
  • Pass Yards: 194
  • Rush Yards: 97.29
Defense:
  • Average Score Against: 31.71
  • Total Yards: 425.42
  • Pass Yards: 300.71
  • Rush Yards: 124.71

Why Bet On Cincinnati?

The Bengals came out of their bye week last Sunday on a two-game winning streak but played terribly in a 29-14 loss to Pittsburgh. Things began to fall apart after the Bengals failed to gain a yard with less than two minutes left in the first half. Two defensive penalties led to a Steelers field goal, followed by two straight interceptions off deflected passes from Dalton. At two points late in the fourth quarter, with the Bengals desperately needing to convert on third down, Dalton was sacked. Dalton completed 17-of-30 passes for 140 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. Dalton struggled under pressure as the Bengals’ offensive line was a big mismatch for the Steelers’ pass rush. He was sacked four times and pressured on many key 3rd downs, playing a part in the Bengals 27 percent 3rd down conversion rate. Rookie running back Joe Mixon helped set up the Bengals’ first touchdown against the Steelers with a 25-yard run in the first half but then was barely used. Mixon, who finished the night with seven carries for 48 yards and three receptions for 20 yards, said he couldn’t help but notice the Steelers’ success running the ball, with Le’Veon Bell getting 35 carries for 134 yards. The Bengals are favorites in the NFL odds for Week 8 “Me personally, I feel like I can do way more than [Bell] did. Like I said, I only had seven carries. I can’t showcase nothing if I don’t get the ball. There’s nothing else I can say,” Mixon said. Bengals coach Marvin Lewis wasn’t happy that Mixon voiced his frustration about his lack of carries, saying that the rookie running back needs to “show maturity just like everybody else.” Bengals oft-disciplined linebacker Vontaze Burfict hasn’t been suspended for kicking Steelers fullback Roosevelt Nix during Sunday’s game but was fined.

Team Statistics

Offense:
  • Average Score For: 16.33
  • Total Yards: 289
  • Pass Yards: 207.17
  • Rush Yards: 81.83
Defense:
  • Average Score Against: 18.67
  • Total Yards: 289
  • Pass Yards: 177.67
  • Rush Yards: 111.33

Latest NFL Betting Trends

  • Colts are 3-6 ATS in the last 9 games
  • Colts are 2-5 SU in the last 7 games
  • The total went OVER in 4 of Indianapolis’s last 5 games
  • Bengals are 3-6 ATS in the last 9 games when playing at home against Indianapolis
  • Bengals are 2-4 SU in the last 6 games
  • The total went UNDER in 8 of Cincinnati’s last 10 games

Expert Prediction & NFL Betting Pick for Week 8

Buy this line down to 9.5 and take Cincinnati. It’s quite possible the Colts are shut out again.