AFC North-Leading Bengals Still Given Long Super Bowl 53 Odds
- AFC North-leading Cincinnati Bengals aren’t listed among top five AFC Super Bowl contenders
- Bengals are 0-2 in Super Bowls
- Bengals have lost eight straight postseason games
You can’t really blame the football world for doubting the Cincinnati Bengals, for raising an eyebrow of suspicion over the club’s 4-1 start that has the Bengals idling atop the AFC North.
After all, historically, the Bengals’ resume indicates that they possess a knack for chasing prosperity out of town.
It’s no wonder that you will search long and deep into the NFL Super Bowl 53 future book before locating the Bengals.
Average Odds to Win Super Bowl 53
But we also understand why there are feelings of disrespect towards the Bengals. In order to see Cincinnati, you have to flip to the “Top 7” tab in the graph above. And at that point, you’ll see that the 3-2 Baltimore Ravens have the same average odds to win Super Bowl 53 (+2500).
Even worse, the 2-2-1 Pittsburgh Steelers actually have shorter average odds.
Super Bowl 53 Odds
| Super Bowl 53 | Odds |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles Rams | +295 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | +600 |
| New England Patriots | +650 |
| New Orleans Saints | +900 |
| Minnesota Vikings | +1200 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | +2200 |
Bengals’ Tests Upcoming
Are the Bengals for real? We’re about to find out.
This week, they welcome their arch rivals the Steelers to town, a team that’s had Cinci’s number.
The #Steelers and Bengals have met 30 times during the regular season in the month of October. Pittsburgh holds a 21-9 advantage (8-6 on the road.)
— Missi Matthews (@missi_matthews) October 9, 2018
Pittsburgh has won six straight from the Bengals. Cinci coach Marvin Lewis is 8-24 all-time against the Steelers. In their last meeting, the Bengals raced to a 17-0 lead and still lost 23-20.
The Bengals can legitimize themselves and put another nail in Pittsburgh’s coffin with a win here.
Cinci Going Prime Time
If they find a way to overcome the Steelers, then things get really get interesting. On Oct. 21, the Bengals travel to Kansas City to face the AFC’s best team, the Chiefs. This game has been flexed to a prime time start on Sunday Night Football, and that might not be good news for Cincinnati.
#Bengals in primetime:
21-50 all time
8-24 under Marvin
7-39 on road all time
1-16 on road under Marvin
3-14 Sunday nite all time
1-8 Sunday nite under Marvin
1-13 Sun. nite road all time
0-7 Sun. nite road under Marvin
0-3 When flexed
0-0vs. Kansas City— Jay Morrison (@JayMorrisonATH) October 9, 2018
At this juncture, this would be the only prime time game on the Bengals’ schedule this season.
History Is Unkind To Cincinnati
By now, you are coming to understand why it’s so hard to be a Bengals backer. They haven’t won a playoff game since 1990 and it’s been so long the victims that day were the Houston Oilers.
Cinci has suffered eight successive setbacks since that day. You know your team is mired in a slump when both the Cleveland Browns and Detroit Lions have won more postseason games over the same span of time.
Why Should You Expect It To Be Different for the Bengals?
There’s something unusual about this year’s edition of the Bengals. Instead of coming undone, they are finding ways to get it done. Last week, they overcame a 17-0 third-quarter deficit to beat the Dolphins 27-17.
Sunday’s win marked the second time in Bengals history they outscored a team by 24 points in the fourth quarter. – ESPN Stats & Information
They’ve come from behind in the second half in three of their four victories. Cinci has outscored the opposition 56-15 in the fourth quarter.
It's officially #Steelers – #Bengals week pic.twitter.com/Gjb1On6EKC
— Steelers Depot 7⃣ (@Steelersdepot) October 9, 2018
Still, they are the Bengals, and that means you take everthing they do with a grain of salt. Remember, the last Cinci quarterback to win a playoff game was Boomer Esiason.
Our advice to you where the Bengals are concerned is to exercise patience. Watch these next two games. If Cinci shows you something, then bet away on the Bengals.
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
