NFL Week 6 brings up a matchup between the Cincinnati Bengals and the New Orleans Saints, two 2-3 teams that didn’t expect to be where they are right now. Neither team is in a terribly bad spot in the season right now, but a win would go a long way in turning their respective seasons around.
Cincinnati Bengals vs. New Orleans Saints
Matchup Info
Both NFL teams come into this game tied for second in their division at 2-3. The Bengals are not living up to the expectations set for them by NFL fans across the country. The offense looks like a shell of what it was last year. Speaking of offenses, the Saints’ offense looks less like a shell and more like skeletal remains, as their whole offense is seemingly injured. Even so, they put up 39 points last week against Seattle.
We are at the point of the season where we start to figure out who are contenders and who are pretenders and to be frank, the jury is still out on both of these teams. Neither team seems bad enough to write them out of playoff contention though neither team seems deserving of confidence either. With what could be a meaningful game toward wildcard eligibility later on down the road, you have to assume both squads will be ready to play.
Bengals Performance Recap and Analysis
Who could’ve expected the Bengals to go from being in the Super Bowl to struggling to find wins? The Bengals have shown flashes of last year’s miraculous run, finding wins over the Jets and a banged-up Dolphins. The Bengals are coming in off a 17-19 loss to Baltimore on Sunday Night Football.
The Bengals have been getting a strong showing from their defense, which is only allowing 17.8 points per game which ranks them 8th in the league. Cincinnati’s offense, however, is struggling and in the middle of the pack so far with the possibility of falling behind, ranking 16th in points per game and 22nd in yards. The offensive line has given up 19 sacks ranking 29th in the league.
There are signs of light, however, as the Bengals are finding ways to move the ball having 107 first downs on the year and ranking 7th in NFL team stats for first downs. The Bengals just need to stop taking themselves out of scoring positions.
Key Injuries
The Bengals are one of the healthier teams in the NFL right now. WR Tee Higgins and LT Jonah Williams are both listed as day-to-day. Higgins would greatly help serve as a jump start to an offense that is having a hard time finding the endzone. Other than that, the Bengals need to stay healthy and away from the injury bug.
Betting Trends to Know
The Bengals have covered the past three weeks, making it one of the hotter Bengals vs. Saints Betting Picks.
Saints Performance Recap and Analysis
Saints fans have been having a hard time keeping their pulses under control this year, as four of their first five games have been decided by a single possession. After a heartbreaking loss via double doink to the Minnesota Vikings in London, the Saints came home to secure a crazy 39-32 win over the Seattle Seahawks. A game in which gadget QB Taysom Hill popped off being used in the run game, racking up 112 rushing yards and 3rushing TDs while also throwing a 22-yard TD.
The Saints’ Defense has been a little lackluster, allowing 25.6 points a game which ranks them 25th in the league in points allowed. They, however, also show signs of high-level play that fans were expecting as they rank 3rd in the league in 1st downs given up. The thing hurting the team the most is that they are the 3rd most penalized team in the league averaging eight penalties a game. This trend must end if the Saints want to take their division, a doable feat when looking at the Saints’ standings.
Key Injuries
Unlike their opponents, the New Orleans Saints are very banged up. As their starting QB, Jamis Winston is currently listed as questionable. Even if Winston can play, there’s still the question of who he will be throwing to, as Michael Thoams, Chris Olave, Jarvis Landry, and Deonte Harty are all currently listed as questionable leaving only a couple WRs left on the depth chart. Look for the game plan to work around that, trying to get the same production using Taysom Hill where they can to account for their offense being without its skill players.
Betting Trends to Know
Andy Dalton is 75-70-8 against the spread all time as a starter. For the majority of those games, he wasn’t missing the core of the WR room either; just food for thought as you make your Bengals vs. Saints betting picks.
Bengals vs. Saints Odds
Looking at the NFL odds in week 6, the Bengals are -2 favorites going into New Orleans. The Bengals money line currently sits at -130, while the Saints’ money line price is +110. The over/under is currently set at 44 total points.
Bengals vs. Saints Betting Picks
Moneyline (Bengals -130)
Listen, Taysom Hill had a great game, and I’ll give him that. The Saints knew how to use him in the right scenarios. However, the Bengals have had time all week to watch the film and prep for when they see number 7 on the field. I love the Bengals’ odds in this one and have it as my favorite of my Bengals vs. Saints betting picks.
Spread (Bengals -2)
Again emphasizing the offensive injuries for New Orleans, I just don’t see how they keep up. Even in an ideal world where they get 2 of their WRs back, I don’t foresee them being 100%, and without Hill being able to find the same success as last week, I think the Bengals should win by at least a field goal easily.
Over/Under (Under 44)
Neither team isn’t known for blowing up the scoreboard this year, and the Saints’ barn burner against Seattle seemed more coincidental than feasible as a consistent feat. I think the score nears the point total but doesn’t go over.
Bengals vs. Saints Score Prediction
I have the Saints moving the ball but never really finding much success in the endzone, while the Bengals find it just enough to keep the game close yet secure. I have the Bengals winning 24-16.
If you love sports and want more sports betting information follow us as @InsidersBetDig on Twitter and sign up to our mailing list for free betting picks.