Bengals not getting love from Vegas
The Cincinnati Bengals are 11-3 and looking to lock up the AFC North this weekend. They are traveling to take on the Denver Broncos, who at 10-4 can take control of a BYE in the playoffs should they earn a victory. However, Cincinnati can clinch the aforementioned BYE with a win, and perhaps stay alive for the top seed in the conference.
Despite all the success had this season, the Bengals are not getting much love from the fine folks in Vegas. Cincinnati is sitting fifth in the AFC when it comes to futures bets for the conference champion, settling in behind the New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers, Denver Broncos and streaking Kansas City Chiefs.
The reasons? For starters, the Bengals are missing quarterback Andy Dalton, who is recovering from a broken thumb on his throwing hand. Dalton broke the digit trying to make a tackle against the Steelers earlier this month and will at least miss the rest of the regular season, if not time in the postseason.
Vegas can’t be feeling very good about second-year man A.J. McCarron, even with his impressive win over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday at Levi’s Stadium. McCarron played in plenty of big games throughout his college career at the University of Alabama with the Crimson Tide, but this is a level he has little experience at.
Second, Cincinnati has struggled to win in the postseason. How badly? The Bengals have not enjoyed success in the postseason since they took home a victory in 1991. In recent year, Dalton and Co. have made the playoffs in each of the past four seasons, only to lose in the Wild Card round each time. Last year, they were blown out by Andrew Luck and Indianapolis Colts.
If Cincinnati can beat Denver on Monday night and lock up the second seed at minimum, look for Vegas to start showing some more confidence. The Bengals would be in much better position, and it would likely be the Chiefs who would be their first opponent, instead of seeing the Steelers in the Wild Card round. While Kansas City would certainly be no picnic, the Steelers have worn out Cincinnati for the better part of the last 40 years.
Ultimately, this group needs to prove it can win in January. Dalton must come back, and when he does, the men in orange and black have to finally get over what has shown to be a major hump in the road. The Bengals are arguably the most balanced team in the AFC with a solid defense and dynamic offense, but it means nothing in the eyes of analysts – and bettors – until the proof is on the scoreboard in a postseason affair.
