The Cincinnati Bengals had a disappointing season for fans and Ohio sports betting backers in 2023. After making the Super Bowl and the AFC Championship in back-to-back seasons, the Bengals failed to make the playoffs last season thanks to injuries suffered by quarterback Joe Burrow and defensive tackle D.J. Reader.
Even with those injuries, the Bengals finished 9-8 and were in playoff contention until the penultimate week of the season. However, that mark also put Cincinnati in last place in the AFC North.
For the 2024 NFL season, the current win total (over/under) for the Cincinnati Bengals is set at 10.5 wins (-140 over) at DraftKings Ohio Sportsbook. Using the SportsReference website, BetOhio.com found all teams with a 10.5-win total line in the past 10 NFL seasons and how they performed.
Situation | Number of Teams | Percentage* |
Under 10.5 Wins | 19 of 35 | 54.3% |
Over 10.5 Wins | 16 of 35 | 45.7% |
Make NFL Playoffs | 22 of 35 | 62.9% |
Make Divisional Round | 19 of 35 | 54.3% |
Make Conference Championship | 12 of 35 | 34.3% |
Make Super Bowl | 6 of 35 | 17.1% |
Win Super Bowl | 5 of 35 | 14.3% |
*Rounded to nearest whole number
Five teams in the past 10 seasons went on to win the Super Bowl after having a win total of 10.5, including the 2022 Chiefs, who would have been available as a wager at Ohio sportsbook apps entering the playoffs shortly after the stateās operation launched on Jan. 1, 2023. Those teams were the 2014 and 2016 New England Patriots, the 2019 and ā22 Chiefs and the 2021 Los Angeles Rams.
Despite the injuries, the Bengals stayed competitive throughout 2023, a season in which they had one of the toughest schedules in the NFL. Once Burrow, who suffered a calf injury in the preseason, became healthy, Cincinnati won at San Francisco and against Buffalo.
Even after Burrow went down for the season with a wrist injury, backup quarterback Jake Browning exceeded expectations (track Cincinnati Bengals playoff chances according to oddsmakers as the season progresses). It certainly helps to have weapons like wide receivers JaāMarr Chase and Tee Higgins available. This yearās team will add free agent running back Zack Moss, free agent tight end Mike Gesicki and rookie receiver Jermaine Burton to the offense.
The Bengalsā defense took a step back in 2023 after losing some key players to free agency. It gave up a league-worst average of 12.3 yards per reception (tied with Detroit) and the second-most passes of 20 or more yards at 65 (tied with Tampa Bay). It also ranked among the NFLās worst again the run, with a 4.7 average yards per carry against and 17 carries that went for at least 20 yards.
To shore up the defense, the Bengals signed safety Geno Stone from Baltimore and brought back Vonn Bell, a stalwart of the 2021 and 2022 teams who played last season for the Carolina Panthers. Reader left as a free agent, but the Bengals signed Sheldon Rankins as a replacement.
Because the Bengals finished last in the AFC North, theyāll likely benefit from a schedule that will feature games against other AFC last-place teams. They also have games against the Washington Commanders, New York Giants and Carolina Panthers. Find the best Cincinnati Bengals sportsbook promo codes to get ready for the 2024 NFL season.
Yes, the schedule gets a little easier, but Cincinnati still must play in Kansas City, Dallas and at home against Philadelphia. Thereās also the AFC North. The Bengals have only been 8-10 over the past three seasons against their rivals from Baltimore, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh.
Cincinnatiās offensive line has also raised question marks in recent years. It gave up 50 sacks last season; some of those were due to Burrowās lack of mobility earlier in the year, but he and other QBs still got hit repeatedly. Last year wasnāt an outlier, either. In the Super Bowl season of 2021-22, Cincinnatiās o-line allowed 55 sacks.
The Bengals signed veteran Trent Brown to bolster the line. He graded as the 11th-best offensive tackle in the NFL last season but only played 11 games. Health is a concern as the 10-year veteran has played a full season just once since 2019.
Special teams play, namely punting, also has been an issue in recent years. Last year, the Bengals had the third-lowest punting average in the league and landed just 20 of 76 kicks inside the 20.
All in all, Caesars Ohio Sportsbook expects the Bengals to be among the top teams in the league this upcoming season. Theyāre the second choice at +170 odds to win the AFC North, with the Baltimore Ravens a slight favorite at +135. The Bengals and Houston Texans are the co-third choice for the conference at +700 with Caesars, behind only the Chiefs at +330 and Ravens at +480.
Cincinnati is tied for fifth on the operatorās Super Bowl board at +1400, the same as the Philadelphia Eagles. Only the Chiefs (+575), 49ers (+575), Ravens (+900) and Detroit Lions (+1300) have shorter odds.
The Bengals kick off the 2024 campaign at home against the New England Patriots on Sept. 8. Theyāre nine-point favorites against the Pats, the largest spread of any Week 1 game.
BetOhio.com provides the best Ohio sports betting promo codes as well as continuing NFL coverage.
USA Today photo by Jeremy Reper
Author
Steve is an accomplished, award-winning reporter with more than 20 years of experience covering gaming, sports, politics and business. He has written for the Associated Press, Reuters, The Louisville Courier Journal, The Center Square and numerous other publications. Based in Louisville, Ky., Steve has covered the expansion of sports betting in the U.S. and other gaming matters.
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