NFL Betting Analysis and Predictions: Las Vegas Raiders at Cincinnati Bengals
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A T-shirt available for sale on the Barstool Sports’ website sums up the Cincinnati Bengals’ 2021 run to this weekend’s AFC wild card game.
The Bengals (10-7) face the visiting Las Vegas Raiders (10-17) in 65,515-seat Paul Brown Stadium on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. ET.
The T-shirt’s front includes the word “Bayou” in LSU purple with gold trim, and “Bengals” in Cincinnati orange. On the back are images of Bengals’ quarterback Joe Burrow and wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, teammates during the LSU Tigers’ 2019 national championship season. The Tigers informally are known as the Bayou Bengals.
Just as they did at LSU, Chase and Burrow have combined in Cincinnati to achieve success this year. Led by these two standout young players, the Bengals hope Cincinnati fans can witness the franchise’s first postseason victory since a 1991 win over the Houston Oilers.
Cincinnati Position Players Post Impressive Numbers
Going into Saturday’s game, the Bengals are 5.5-point favorites, according to Caesars Ontario Sportsbook. The over/under is 48.5.
The Bengals have won three of their last five games. They sat out Burrow in a season-ending loss to in-state rival Cleveland so the Cincinnati QB could receive treatment for a sore right knee.
The Bengals’ success this year includes a 32-13 Week 11 win over the Raiders at Allegiant Stadium just west of the Las Vegas Strip.
In that victory, Cincinnati running back Joe Mixon rushed for 123 yards. He finished the year as one of the league’s top backs, with 1,205 yards rushing and 13 touchdowns. Only two running backs, the Colts’ Jonathan Taylor and Browns’ Nick Chubb, finished with more rushing yards.
Burrow and Chase ended the season with impressive numbers, too. Burrow threw for 4,611 yards and 34 touchdowns, with 14 interceptions.
Chase totaled 1,455 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns on 81 receptions. After setting a rookie reception record this year, with 266 yards in a Cincinnati victory over Kansas City, Chase’s jersey and other items were put on display at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.
Raiders on a Roll, Finishing Season with Winning Streak
The Raiders are on a roll, having won four of their last five games, including a dramatic 35-32 overtime victory last Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers, securing a spot in the playoffs.
The Raiders are playing for the franchise’s first playoff victory since winning at the Tennessee Titans in the AFC title game following the 2002 season.
Like the Bengals, the Raiders also boast a roster of players with impressive statistics. Quarterback Derek Carr, a veteran Fresno State product, threw for more yardage than Burrow, racking up 4,804 yards throughout the season. Carr threw for 23 touchdowns and the same number of interceptions as Burrow — 14.
The Raiders’ leading receiver, Hunter Renfrow, collected 103 receptions, or 22 more than Chase. Renfrow scored nine touchdowns on 1,038 receiving yards.
Team-leading running back Josh Jacobs, another in the University of Alabama’s line of stellar RBs, ran for 872 yards this season, scoring nine touchdowns.
Raiders at Bengals Prediction
Final things to look for in you NFL betting preparations.
As the home team this year, Cincinnati has covered the spread four times, according to the New York Post. The team has a 1-1 record at home against the spread when favored by 5.5 points or more.
The Raiders have covered the spread eight times on the road have hit the over in six of its road games. Playing as an underdog of at least 5.5 points this season, the Raiders are 6-3 ATS.
One X factor in the game could be the weather. The warm-weather Raiders, who play indoors in a sunny, desert region, will take the field in Cincinnati this weekend as a cold front sweeps through the Midwest.
The high on Saturday is expected to top out at 32 degrees, with a 12% chance of perception, including a slight chance of snow in the Cincinnati area.
Given these factors, including a Cincinnati team with much expected of its high-performing, confident young stars, take the Bengals, 27-21.
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