The 2-0 Broncos take their show on the road vs. a Bengals team looking to take down the champs
The Cincinnati Bengals (1-1 SU) have to be satisfied with a split from their first two road games of the season. They came within a hair of losing in New York (Week 1) but walked away with a 23-22 win and then lost 24-16 at Heinz Field. Field goals against the Steelers are seldom going to lead a team to victory. Cinci was driving in the fourth quarter against Pittsburgh but some unfortunate luck on a review ended their comeback threat.
DENVER at CINCINNATI
Odds: Bengals -3 (-125) and O/U 41
This week Cinci welcomes the defending Super Bowl champs for a rematch of Week 15 last year, but the Broncos have a new signal caller under center. Trevor Siemian has one TD pass to three interceptions his first two weeks but the Denver defense (2-0 SU/ATS) is in fine form. After holding Cam Newton to 194 passing yards in the season opener, Denver limited Colts QB Andrew Luck to just 197 yards through the air in a 34-20 win.
NFL Trend Tip: The past 22 road teams to be getting points after holding back-to-back opponents to less than 200 yards are 17-4-1 ATS. The 10 dogs in this set up to +4.5 points went 9-1 ATS.
Denver is 3-1 ATS in Week 3 road games that followed a back-to-back start at Mile High and the two most recent (2014, 2011) each stayed under the total. The past nine times (beyond Week 1) that Cinci’s home opener was against a winning team from the previous year, they have played 1 over and 8 unders.
AJ Green will be looking for a big game against the Broncos after being limited to just 38 yards on two receptions in Pittsburgh. Bengals QB Andy Dalton (hip) is expected to start Sunday but he’s not 100-percent and clearly seems to be missing his trio of targets, Tyler Eifert, Mohamed Sanu and Marvin Jones. RB Giovanni Bernard (100) led the team in receiving yards last week and he and RB Jeremy Hill will need big days if Cinci wants to notch another ‘W’.
Denver is 11-3 straight-up its past 14 against the Bengals and defending Super Bowl champs have a 4-1 SU/ATS record in their first road game when getting points. This game also fits a profile where the one side is making its home debut in Week 3 against a foe that spent their first two weeks at home. In 20 such situations the past 25 years, the road team holds a 13-5-2 ATS record on an average line of +2 points. This won’t be an easy game for Denver but when this defense is getting a field goal at plus money, they are worth a look every time.