Will Cincy finally get their first win of 2024? Find out by diving into our betting guide for Bengals vs. Panthers! We'll go over the odds, predictions, and best bets below. Good luck, folks!
Oddsmakers originally installed the Bengals as a 7-point favorite in this contest, but that was before their epic meltdown on Monday Night Football against the Commanders. The books have re-opened this line at Cincinnati -4.5 as of Tuesday morning.
As for the total, most online sportsbooks are dealing 47.5 at the time of this writing. However, there are a few shops dealing 47 or 48 if you shop around meticulously. Both teams have struggled defensively, and that's probably the reason for this total being in the high 40s.
It's hard to believe that the Bengals are still winless in 2024. This team came into the season with incredibly high expectations, especially on the offensive end. They've had some issues with health, but losses to New England and Washington are inexcusable.
Cincy's main issues have been on the defensive end so far, as their front 7 has had a tough time generating any semblance of a pass rush. The secondary has also been a concern, as they're giving up 7 yards per pass attempt (23rd in the league).
Joe Burrow hasn't been terrible so far for the Bengals offense. The former Heisman Trophy winner has thrown for 746 yards and 5 touchdowns with no picks. Burrow could have lots of success against a Panthers defense that's allowing 31.7 points per game (last in the NFL).
You just have to admire a wily old veteran like Andy Dalton! The 36-year-old patiently waited his turn and made the most of his opportunity last week against Las Vegas. Dalton dropped dimes left and right on his way to throwing for over 300 yards and 3 scores in Week 3.
The bad news for the Carolina offense is that they'll likely be without star wideout Adam Thielen, who suffered a hamstring injury in their big win over the Raiders. He had an MRI on Monday and it's unclear just how many games he'll miss.
We've already mentioned Carolina's subpar defense, but it's worth repeating. They struggle to stop both the run and the pass, which is a deadly combination in this league. The Panthers are allowing 5.7 yards per play, which ranks just 23rd.
As crazy as it may sound, I think this is a fantastic spot to buy Cincy at a very cheap price. The Bengals' performance on Monday Night Football was abysmal, but I'm not sure that it was worth a 2.5-point downgrade off the look-ahead line of -7.
This is also a good opportunity to sell high on the Panthers. I like Andy Dalton as much as the next guy, but the Raiders just aren't a good football team. I think Carolina is getting way too much love for that win last week.
There's just something about this spot that tells me that Burrow will throw for 300 yards and 5 touchdowns on this porous defense. Let's lay the moderate price here with the Bengals! Good luck!
Prediction: Bengals 35 - Panthers 17