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The Dolphins head north to Cincinnati in the final week of the preseason. It’s time to continue our NFL odds series and make a Dolphins-Bengals prediction and pick.
Each team has a bright young starter at quarterback. In Miami, it is former Alabama star Tua Tagovailoa. In Cincinnati, it is Heisman winner Joe Burrow. But neither quarterback is projected to play at all in this contest with the backups getting their last reps in before the regular season begins. Miami might contend for a playoff spot, but Cincinnati should once again be near the bottom of the league's standings – although they surely will improve with Burrow at the helm.
Here’s how the bookmakers have set the lines for Sunday's matchup.
NFL Odds: Dolphins-Bengals Odds
Miami Dolphins (+105)
Cincinnati Bengals (-125)
Over 35 1/2 points (-115)
Under 35 1/2 points (-105)
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Why The Dolphins Could Win
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Jacoby Brissett, likely the team's backup quarterback this season, played incredibly last week. He completed all eight of his pass attempts, while throwing for 99 yards and a touchdown. In Brissett is given more opportunities in this game, he has the talent to pull off a similar performance and end Miami's preseason on a high-note. Brissett was a starter in Indianapolis before Carson Wentz around, so he has the talent to be a starter in this league. If Tua struggles this season or goes down with an injury, the Dolphins have a very solid quarterback in Brissett to step in and lead the offense. Don't forget that Brissett also was previously in the Patriots offense, where he sat behind Tom Brady for a season. While he's no longer a primary starter in the NFL, Brissett is one of the league's best backup quarterbacks and should get ample opportunities to shine in this game against Cincinnati. I wouldn't be surprised if he throws another couple touchdowns and puts Miami on top at the end of this game.
Why The Bengals Could Win
Speaking of backup quarterbacks, the Bengals backup this season is actually someone who started a handful of games for them in 2020. When Joe Burrow's season was lost to injury, Brandon Allen stepped up to throw for over 900 yards and five touchdowns across five games. He knows the offense well by this point and the coaching staff is also well aware of his skillset. Obviously Burrow is back as the starter this season, but Allen should slot into the backup role nicely for a continually rebuilding Bengals team. Look for Allen to improve on his stats from last week though – he went 8-for-17 with only 70 yards. The truth is, Allen is better than that though, and should put up significantly better numbers this week. His 371 yard game against Houston last season is a perfect example of what he is capable of doing on the football field. If Allen can find some of that rhythm again, it would give the Bengals a good chance to take down Miami in what should be a low-scoring game either way.
Final Dolphins-Bengals Prediction & Pick
I honestly feel that Jacoby Brissett should be a starter somewhere in the NFL. He's not a star, but he's just too good to be a backup in my opinion. With that, he takes advantage of this final preseason game and leads the Dolphins to 20+ points in a win. Brandon Allen will play better too, but not on the level of Brissett. Dolphins by at least a few points.
FINAL PICK: Dolphins MONEYLINE (+105)
