Bengals at Titans: Preview, prediction, odds and pick
By John Buhler
The Tennessee Titans will host the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday afternoon in Week 10. Here is a game preview, the betting odds and a final score prediction.
Week 10 of the 2017 NFL season will be underway this weekend. One game going on in the AFC will be between the Cincinnati Bengals (3-5) and the Tennessee Titans (5-3). Kickoff at Nissan Stadium in Nashville will be at 1:00 p.m. ET on Nov. 12. Dick Stockton and Mark Schlereth will be in the booth to call the game for FOX.
Cincinnati needs to win this game to stay alive in the AFC playoff picture. The Bengals are already three games back of the division rival Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2) in the AFC North standings. They are slowly, but surely losing grip on their season. It could be the end of the line for long-time Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis. Missing the playoffs two years in a row could jump-start a culture change in the Queen City this upcoming offseason.
Tennessee is atop the AFC South standings by virtue of having the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Jacksonville Jaguars (5-3). The Titans tend to play within themselves. As long as a game remains low-scoring, then Tennessee always has a chance to win it. However, this team is not equipped to win a shootout with Marcus Mariota at quarterback. It’s just not how this Tennessee offense is designed.
Betting Odds
Point Spread: Tennessee -4.5
Moneylines: Tennessee -220, Cincinnati +190
Over/Under: 40.5
According to OddsShark, the Titans will be laying 4.5 points to the visiting Bengals. The associated moneylines for this game are Tennessee -220 and Cincinnati +190. This game’s over/under comes in at a combined 40.5 points.
With Tennessee’s preference to play low-scoring games and the inconsistent nature of the Bengals’ offense, let’s side with the under in this game between the Bengals and the Titans. The point spread projects a one-score game and that’s exactly what we will be getting.
It will be all tied up at 17 late in the fourth quarter. After failing to convert on a fourth down, the Bengals will punt the ball to Tennessee with Mariota having one last shot at preventing this game from going to overtime. It won’t be a perfect drive for Mariota, but he will do enough with his arm and legs to set up Ryan Succop for the game-winning 45-yard field goal.
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Succop is automatic inside of 50 yards and will make the high-pressure kick. Tennessee will improve to 6-3 on the year, but the Bengals will cover the 4.5-point spread while falling to 3-6 on the season.
Pick: Titans 20, Bengals 17