Cincinnati Bengals vs. Buffalo Bills, 8/26/18 Predictions & Odds

Bengals vs. Bills Preseason Pick

The Cincinnati Bengals and Buffalo Bills will meet at 4:00 p.m. ET on Sunday when the two teams continue exhibition play. Are the Bengals a good bet to cover the point spread?

Game Snapshot

279 Cincinnati Bengals at 280 Buffalo Bills

4:00 p.m. ET, Sunday, August 25, 2018

New Era Field, Orchard Park, New York

Public Betting Trends

According to oddsmakers from online sports book BetNow.eu, the Bills are 2.5-point favorites to beat the Bengals. The total, meanwhile, sits at 42 points. As of this writing, 55% of the public betting tickets are on the Bills to cover the point spread.

Cincinnati Bengals

For the most part, the starters in this game will be the ones Marvin Lewis trots out in the opener at Indianapolis on Sept. 9, and the first-team offense and defense should get the most playing time they’ll see this preseason. However, Lewis indicated earlier this week there are several young or new players he still wants to see against Buffalo’s regulars. On offense, that most likely applies to the ball carriers and receivers, as the line still needs time to jell. This week’s depth chart still lists guard Trey Hopkins and tackle Bobby Hart occupying the right side, and those seem to be the two spots not totally settled as far as starters go.

Buffalo Bills

Bills coach Sean McDermott said the club will "err on the side of caution" with LeSean McCoy (groin) in the preseason. McCoy has been nursing a sore groin in practice all week. Though McDermott is taking caution with his lead back primarily for Sunday's preseason game, it's an injury to monitor moving forward if the soreness continues to linger. McCoy's ADP has continued to slide since the NFL could still place him on the Commissioner Exempt List.

NFL Betting Trends

Cincinnati

The Bengals are 5-0 against the spread in their last five games against AFC opponents.

Buffalo

The Bills are 4-1 against the number in their last five games overall.

Prediction

With this being a dress rehearsal for the regular season, I like the Bengals’ first-team defense to play well and keep the game in check throughout the first half. The Bills lack quality depth on both sides of the ball so I think Cincinnati is the play as an underdog.

 

NFL Preseason Prediction: Cincinnati Bengals +2.5