Last Updated on July 20, 2010 7:00 am by Anthony Rome
Bengals Season Odds
After making a surprising run to the playoffs in 2009, can the Cincinnati Bengals make it back-to-back postseason appearances in 2010?
The Bengals made a couple of moves this offseason, including adding receiver Antonio Bryant and safety Gibril Wilson. They also released receiver Laveranues Coles and didn’t re-sign running back Larry Johnson, who signed with the Redskins as a free agent.
In the draft, the Bengals added the top rated tight end prospect in Oklahoma’s Jermaine Gresham. They took troubled but talented defensive end Carlos Dunlap in the second round and with a pair of selections in the third round, they took receiver Jordan Shipley of Texas and cornerback Brandon Ghee of Wake Forest.
According to oddsmakers from online sports book Sportsbook.com, the Bengals are currently 30/1 long shots to win the 2011 Super Bowl. They’re also 16/1 to win the AFC and are +300 on the money line to win the AFC North Division. Oddsmakers have set the team’s season win total at 7.5 games this year.
Even though they’re 30/1 long shots and shocked many pundits by making the playoffs last year, that’s not to say they were a fluke either. They have a solid veteran quarterback in Carson Palmer, an above-average offensive line, a rejuvenated running back in Cedric Benson and have added two pieces in Bryant and Gresham to the passing game. (To go along with the always-flamboyant Chad Ochocinco, of course.)
Defensively, the Bengals boast two rising stars at cornerback in Leon Hall and Jonathan Joseph, as well as an upcoming linebacker corps featuring Keith Rivers and Rey Maualuga.
That said, this is a team that needs to stay healthy because depth is a concern at most positions and Benson needs to stay out of trouble (which is something that he has been unable to do throughout his NFL career). Assuming the key players stay relatively injury-free, then there’s no reason the Bengals can’t make another postseason run. And thus, they’re a potential value at the odds below.
2011 Super Bowl Odds: Cincinnati Bengals 30/1
Odds to Win AFC: Cincinnati Bengals 16/1
Odds to Win AFC North: Cincinnati Bengals +300
2010 NFL Season Win Totals: Cincinnati Bengals O/U 7.5
Posted: 7/20/10 7:00AM ET