Betting Odds
Point Spread: Bengals -7
Total: 39
Cincinnati lost for the 4th time in five weeks with a heartbreaking 20-19 loss to Houston last Sunday. St. Louis was routed 30-13 by Seattle on Monday night.
This is a good spot for the Bengals offense. RB Cedric Benson will be featured against a defense that allows 5.0 yards-per-carry and 156.8 yards-per-game on the ground. That will put rookie QB Andy Dalton in favorable positions and he should do well against a secondary that has been ravaged by injury. Look for rookie WR A.J. Green to be targeted on intermediate and deep routes as the Rams lack a shutdown corner. While Green has been the top target all year, three other receivers have 37+ receptions showing Dalton makes solid progressions. One thing the St. Louis defense can do is apply pressure on the QB but the Bengals have surrendered only 21 sacks all season.
St. Louis has averaged only 11 points-per-game over the last six games (5 losses) and has only one real weapon. RB Stephen Jackson is a workhorse but generally doesn’t break long runs. QB Sam Bradford returned from injury last week and didn’t look good at all. It has been a lost year for the reigning NFL Off. Rookie of the Year and don’t expect a sudden rebirth this week. Cincinnati’s pass defense has suffered since losing CB Leon Hall for the season but the Rams passing attack hasn’t been dangerous. WR Brandon Lloyd is the only player on the team with more than one TD reception. The Bengals pass rush has slowed down over the past month but they should rebound against this patchwork O-line.
ATS Pick
The Bengals have lost four of their past five games but those losses have come to the Ravens, Texans and the Steelers twice. They were also in three of those games and could have won them all. This is a major step down in class for them and while the defense has some issues, they should be too much for a Rams squad that is 2-11 SU/ATS this year and just playing out the string. Look for Cincinnati to vault themselves back into playoff contention with a big road win.
Take the Bengals
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