The Cincinnati Bengals are getting healthier, and not surprisingly, their playoff chances are improving as well for their fans and Ohio sportsbooks backers.
With its 21-14 victory Sunday at Cleveland, the Bengals won their second straight game. After starting the season 0-3, they’re now 3-4 and two games behind the Pittsburgh Steelers in the NFC North. (Note: If the Ravens win Monday night against Tampa Bay, Baltimore will tie the Steelers for the division lead).
All season, BetOhio has been charting Cincinnati Bengals playoff chances, using data from the previous five seasons at Champs or Chumps to see how many teams have made the playoffs with identical records as the Bengals. Since 2019, 38 teams have started their campaigns with a 3-4 record.
Situation | Number of Teams | Percentage* |
Making The Playoffs | 10 | 26% |
Advanced Past Wild Card Round | 6 | 16% |
Winning Divisional Round | 4 | 11% |
Winning Conference Championship | 0 | 0% |
Winning Super Bowl | 0 | 0% |
*Rounded to nearest whole number
Roughly a quarter of the 3-4 teams have reached the postseason over the previous five years, but NFL.com lists the Bengals’ playoff probability after their win over the Browns at 34%. BetOhio.com has been keeping track of these trends, plus we offer the best Ohio sports betting promotions.
Many football pundits might figure that those probabilities seem low for a team that has one-score losses to both Baltimore and Kansas City, perhaps the two best teams in the AFC. The Bengals were without star receiver Tee Higgins for the loss at KC. In addition, starting defensive linemen B.J. Hill and Sheldon Rankins have missed a total of five games. Those two have returned, but cornerback Dax Hill (torn right ACL) is lost for the season.
Oddsmakers at Ohio sports betting apps have been more bullish on the Bengals’ playoff chances, even with their awful start, since they were one of the preseason favorites to win the Super Bowl.
Because of that, their odds of making the playoffs now are shorter than most teams in their situation.
For example, as of Oct. 21, bet365 Ohio Sportsbook prices the Bengals’ chances to make the playoffs at -115 (odds against are -105). Those odds equal an implied probability of 53.5% for the Bengals to play in the postseason.
Regarding their Super Bowl chances, the Bengals price has risen since earlier this season. BetMGM started the Bengals at +1400 back in February. Now, Cincy’s priced at +2500.
Cincinnati has already played a lot of big games this season, but another one comes up Sunday afternoon when the Bengals host the 4-2 Philadelphia Eagles in a matchup of teams with aspirations of deep playoff runs. The winner of Sunday’s game will certainly see their chances for making the playoffs increase.
Fanatics Ohio Sportsbook set the Bengals as a -150 favorite on the moneyline, with the Eagles odds set at +125. For those interested in point spreads, ESPN BET has Cincinnati as a 2.5-point favorite in the 1 p.m. Sunday game.
Aside from the playoff implications, Sunday’s game is also Cincinnati’s annual “White Tiger” game, meaning they will wear their all-white uniform with their special white helmet. The Bengals have yet to lose since unveiling the look two years ago.
USA Today photo by Ken Blaze
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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