Detroit Lions vs Cincinnati Bengals Picks, Prediction & Updated Betting Lines (Week 5)
By Ryan Potts in NFL News
Published:
- The Lions are on a roll after a Week 1 loss, winning three straight in impressive fashion
- Is it Tee Higgins’ time to shine?
- Check out my Lions vs Bengals pick as well as the updated betting lines below.
In a battle of felines, the ravenous Detroit Lions (3-1) head to Cincinnati to face the Bengals (2-2), who have looked toothless the last couple weeks.
Cincinnati returns home after a pair of ugly losses (48-10 at Minnesota, 28-3 at Denver), while Detroit puts its three-game win streak on the line in a city where they have not won since 1992. Paycor Stadium plays host at 4:25 PM ET on a Fox broadcast.
Read below for my Lions vs Bengals pick, the current DET/CIN betting lines, and three key players to watch.
DET Lions vs CIN Bengals Pick
- Bengals +10.5 (-112, DraftKings)
Jake Browning has not been particularly good since replacing Joe Burrow; however, he has some fairly drastic home/road splits. Both of his starts this season came on the road against elite defenses. Not only is this start in the friendly confines of Paycor Stadium, but the Lions do not have one of the NFL’s elite defenses.
Browning has four career games with multiple touchdown passes – all of them came in Cincinnati. His passer rating is 14.5 points higher at home, and he averages over 8.2 yards per pass while completing just shy of 71% of his passes.
With Cincinnati at home against a defense that isn’t a top unit in the NFL, I am backing the Bengals to keep it somewhat close and cover +10.5.
Lions vs Bengals Predictions
Tee Higgins Breakout Game
Tee Higgins has had a quiet four weeks thus far, catching only 10 passes for 136 yards and a singular touchdown. However, with the Lions’ propensity for playing man coverage, Higgins could be Cincinnati’s top option this week.
Higgins has a 90.3 PFF receiving grade versus man coverage this season, while he has just a 56.1 grade versus zone coverage. According to PFF, the Lions run man coverage at the sixth-highest rate in the NFL at a 35.4% clip. If the Bengals can cover the spread, it would likely come with a productive game for Higgins.
More Touchdowns for Amon-Ra?
With touchdowns in three straight games, Amon-Ra St. Brown has leapt into the lead for touchdowns with six. He scored two last week against Cleveland and a whopping three against Chicago in Week 2. He is averaging eight targets per games, hauling in 27 passes for 307 yards and the aforementioned six touchdowns through the air.
St. Brown scorches every kind of coverage, but five of his six touchdowns have come against man coverage this season. He has caught all 12 of his targets versus man coverage en route to 120 yards and a 91.7 PFF receiving grade.
With his dominant start, St. Brown is angling toward a third straight All-Pro nod and fourth straight Pro Bowl selection. He should finish much higher than 11th in Offensive Player of the Year voting.
Aidan Hutchinson for DPOY?
After an incendiary start to the 2024 season before getting hurt, Aidan Hutchinson is back in the saddle as one of the NFL’s premier pass rushers. He has four sacks and two forced fumbles in the last three weeks, racking up 21 total pressures. Hutchinson’s stretch has launched him to being the favorite for Defensive Player of the Year, listed at +360 odds.
Hutchinson’s primary matchup, Amarius Mims, has had his struggles in Year 2. He has a 49.3 PFF pass-blocking grade, and he was particularly abused last week, allowing five pressures, including a pair of sacks and a hit.
Lions vs Bengals Betting Lines
The Lions are massive road favorites in Cincinnati with the total at 49.5 in the current NFL odds. Over bettors can take over 49.5 at DraftKings for -108 odds. Under bettors can get under 49.5 on FanDuel for -110 odds.
Detroit bettors can get the Lions on the spread at -10 on Caesars for -114 odds or -588 on the moneyline, also at Caesars. For Cincinnati bettors, take the Bengals at +10.5 at DraftKings (-112odds) or +460 odds at FanDuel on the moneyline.
Lions vs Bengals, Last Five Matchups
The Bengals have dominated this cat matchup, winning 10 of 13 lifetime games, including a whopping 10 of 11 dating back over 40 years. The Lions last won in 1992, a game in which Barry Sanders ran for 151 yards and a touchdown.
Cincinnati won the last matchup in a total beatdown, leading 34-3 until the final three minutes. Joe Burrow threw three touchdowns and even gave way for backup Brandon Allen to toss a fourth en route to the road victory. On the Lions’ side, Amon-Ra St. Brown caught five passes and a two-point conversion.
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