Bengals vs Chiefs 2019 NFL Preseason Week 1 Odds, Preview & Pick

Bengals vs Chiefs 2019 NFL Preseason Week 1 Odds, Preview & Pick

Written by on August 9, 2019

The Cincinnati Bengals will kick off their new era under first-time head coach Zac Taylor on Saturday night when they hit the road to take on a Kansas City Chiefs team that is looking for a Super Bowl berth in 2019 and nothing less after coming up just short of reaching the big dance a year ago. If you’re looking for some expert NFL preseason predictions, then let’s find out whether the Bengals or Chiefs are the better pick in this Week 1 preseason opener for both teams.

Bengals vs Chiefs 2019 NFL Preseason Odds, Preview & Pick

 

Weather Forecast

  • Partly Cloudy: 32°C/89°F
  • Humidity: 59%
  • Precipitation: 6%
  • Wind: 7 mph S
  • Cloud Cover: 42%
  • Type of Stadium: Open

Why Bet On Cincinnati at +3.5?

The Bengals will be looking to improve on their uninspiring 6-10 mark in their final season under longtime head coach Marvin Lewis. Cincinnati finished the 2018 campaign ranked a modest 17th in scoring (23.0 ppg), but an awful 30th in points allowed (28.4 ppg).

Now, the Bengals will look to change their entire culture under Taylor, the former LA Rams quarterbacks coach, but they’ll be relying on many of the same players that formed Cincy’s core for the departed Lewis, starting with quarterback Andy Dalton and perennial Pro Bowl wide receiver A.J. Green. Cincinnati addressed their porous offensive line in free agency and selected Alabama tackle Jonah Williams with the 11th overall pick in the draft.

Team Statistics

Offense:
  • Average Score For: 23.00
  • Total Yards: 310.62
  • Pass Yards: 205.50
  • Rush Yards: 105.12
Defense:
  • Average Score Against: 28.44
  • Total Yards: 413.62
  • Pass Yards: 276.00
  • Rush Yards: 137.62

Why Bet On Kansas City at -3.5?

The Chiefs have been seriously consistent in six seasons under head coach Andy Reid. Kansas City has recorded double-digit wins in four consecutive seasons and five of six in the Reid era, including a stellar 12-4 mark last season as second-year quarterback Patrick Mahomes had a season for the ages by passing for a whopping 5,097 yards with 50 TD passes and a dozen interceptions.

While former starting running back Kareem Hunt is no longer with the team, the Chiefs still have a ton of talent on both sides of the ball starting with elite targets in wide receiver Tyreek Hill, tight end Travis Kelce and linebacker Dee Ford, first and foremost. Kansas City finished the 2018 campaign ranked a stellar first in scoring (35.3 ppg), but an uninspiring 24th in points allowed (26.3 ppg).

Team Statistics

Offense:
  • Average Score For: 34.83
  • Total Yards:
  • Pass Yards: 303.11
  • Rush Yards: 115.33
Defense:
  • Average Score Against: 26.17
  • Total Yards: 404.17
  • Pass Yards: 271.89
  • Rush Yards: 132.28

Bengals vs Chiefs NFL Preseason Week 1 Betting Trends

  • Bengals are 4-1 ATS in the last 5 games
  • Bengals are 1-7 SU in the last 8 games
  • The total went UNDER in 6 of the Bengals’ last 8 games when playing on the road against Kansas City
  • Chiefs are 2-5 ATS in the last 7 games
  • Chiefs are 14-5 SU in the last 19 games
  • The total went OVER in 6 of the Chiefs’ last 8 games

Expert Analysis and Prediction for Bengals vs Chiefs

With veteran starter Andy Dalton almost assuredly sitting this one out, the Bengals will turn to backups, Jeff Driskel and Ryan Finley to get the win while Kansas City turns to veteran backup Chad Henne to take care of business at home.  While I think Henne is probably the best backup on the field in this one, I’m going to advise you to back Cincinnati to get the big road win in this one seeing as how the Bengals’ scheduled starters and backups have a lot more riding on the line than Kansas City’s almost set-in-concrete roster.

Cincinnati has gone4-0 ATS in their last 4 road games and 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games overall while Kansas City has gone a discouraging 2-5 ATS in their last 7 home games and 2-6-1 ATS in their last 9 games overall. While the favorite in this AFC rivalry has gone a near-perfect 4-1 ATS in their last 5 meetings, I’m just not expecting the Chiefs to try overly hard to get the win in this one, particularly seeing as how Andy Reid  is just 38-42 in the preseason in his career and 9-12 in Week 1 scrimmage contests.

Pick: Cincinnati +3.5