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The Cincinnati Bengals will take on the Las Vegas Raiders in a battle of playoff hopefuls in Week 11. It's time to continue our NFL odds series and make a Bengals-Raiders prediction and pick.
This matchup didn't exactly pop off the schedule before the season started, but it's turned into a key game. Both of these teams are on the brink of winning their division, as both are tied for second place in their respective divisions. The Bengals are in desperate need of a win following their bye week because of just how competitive their division has become. Every single team in the North has a legitimate shot to make the playoffs, so every game is huge. The same can be said about the Raiders and the AFC West. Las Vegas was just humiliated by the Kansas City Chiefs on national television, so this game becomes even more important in terms of morale.
For more insight on the Bengals-Raiders matchup in Week 11, listen below:
Here are the odds for the Bengals-Raiders Week 11 NFL matchup, courtesy of FanDuel.
NFL Odds: Bengals-Raiders Odds:
Cincinnati Bengals: -1 (-110)
Las Vegas Raiders: +1 (-110)
Over: 50.5 (-106)
Under: 50.5 (-114)
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Why The Bengals Could Cover The Spread
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The Raiders have to be one of the worst 5-4 teams in the league. The offense has been wildly inconsistent, but the defense has been even worse. Las Vegas is currently one of the worst run defenses in the NFL, allowing a whopping 129 rushing yards per game while also allowing 4.5 yards per carry to opposing running backs. Head coach Rich Bisaccia's defense has been solid against the passing game on paper, but even that is a stretch. Vegas has only faced two truly good passers this year, and both had a huge amount of success passing the ball. Cincinnati starter Joe Burrow should be able to follow in their footsteps and play a solid game at the very least.
While it's true that the Bengals haven't been great on defense, they're more than good enough to deal with Vegas. Cincinnati actually ranks inside the top ten in the NFL in rush defense, which plays perfectly against the run-heavy approach of the Raiders. Head coach Zac Taylor's defense has struggled against the pass, but Las Vegas is one of the least intimidating aerial attacks in the NFL. They don't have any real threats at wide receiver, and quarterback Derek Carr just isn't good enough to carry the passing game on his own.
Why The Raiders Could Cover The Spread
Despite their winning record, the Bengals have actually been one of the poorer teams in the league against the spread. They own a 4-5 record ATS on the year, but that record gets even worse when Cincinnati enters a game as a favorite. The Bengals have come into four games as favorites, and they've failed to cover in three of them. The Raiders, on the other hand, are 3-2 against the spread as underdogs. This is a spot that we know the Raiders can cover in.
Las Vegas has faced pass defenses that rank similarly to Cincinnati's in the past, and they've gotten some pretty positive results. The Miami Dolphins are a great statistical comparison for the Bengals, and the Raiders dropped 31 points on them. Derek Carr managed to post nearly 400 yards passing in that game, so there's definitely a chance that Carr and the offense play well here.
Final Bengals-Raiders Prediction & Pick
This line is a confusing one. The Bengals should be favored by more given the general volatility of the Raiders, but this is a good opportunity to bet the favorite. Take Cincinnati with confidence.
Final Bengals-Raiders Prediction & Pick: Cincinnati Bengals: -1 (-110)
