Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals were underdogs 11 times in 2025, won two of them and covered five, while giving up 28.94 points a game, more than all but two NFL teams. Bengals odds and our predictions for every Cincinnati game are above.

Near even on the spread, well short on the moneyline

Against the spread Cincinnati was close to even in 2025: 8 covers in 17 while the record was 6-11. Sixteen NFL teams covered at a higher rate; four sat level with them. The moneyline was harsher. One unit on the Bengals in all 16 priced games lost 7.26 units, and only three teams lost more.

They allowed 28.94 points a game; two NFL teams allowed more. Five opponents scored 37 or more, the highest 48 in a 10-48 loss at Minnesota. At the other end they scored 24.35 a game, more than 20 NFL teams.

Getting points

Underdog in 11 games: 2-9 straight up, 5-6 against the spread. Favored in six: 4-2, three covers. The best day of the year came as a dog, 33-31 over Pittsburgh at home at +200. The worst came as a big favorite: 18-20 at home to Cleveland at -440, the last game of the regular season.

Home or away made little difference: 4 of 9 covered at home and half of the 8 on the road. They never won more than two games in a row.

Where the units went

The underdog games lost 7.0 of the 7.26 units; the six as favorites were near level at -0.26. No month finished in profit; October came closest at -1.0. December lost 1.22 despite three covers in four games, including a 45-21 win at Miami and 37-14 over Arizona.

The AFC North

Every division rival took one game and lost one. The Baltimore Ravens: 32-14 in Baltimore, then 0-24 at home. The Pittsburgh Steelers: 33-31 at home, then 12-34 in Pittsburgh. The Cleveland Browns: 17-16 in Cleveland and the 18-20 finale, and neither game covered.

The total

It split almost down the middle, nine overs and eight unders, so there is nothing to lean on.

Questions and answers