Los Angeles Rams vs Cincinnati Bengals Odds, Picks and Predictions for MNF Week 3

• In a rematch of Super Bowl LVI, the Bengals host the Rams on Monday, September 25th
• With Joe Burrow status in doubt, Cincinnati is a slim 2-point home favorite in the Rams vs Bengals odds
• See the Rams vs Bengals picks and predictions for the late game in tomorrow’s MNF doubleheader

All eyes will be on quarterback Joe Burrow in the lead up to kickoff between the winless Bengals (0-2, 0-2 ATS) and the Los Angeles Rams (1-1, 2-0 ATS) in the late Week 3 Monday Night Football game. Burrow has been hampered by a calf injury and his status is currently listed as questionable for this contest.

You can count on the betting line in the NFL odds to shift depending on the signal caller’s status. Kickoff is set for 8:15 pm ET from Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati on Monday, September 25th, with the game being broadcast on ESPN.

It should be a perfect night for football with temperatures hovering around 70 degrees fahrenheit during game time. Below, you can find all the Rams vs Bengals Week 3 odds as well as our best bet and predictions.

Rams vs Bengals Odds

At the time of writing, the Bengals are 2-point favorites in this matchup against the Rams. Their status as favorites in the odds have dwindled drastically since the Bengals opened as 6.5-point chalk to start the week.

The likely reason for that is because the status of Burrow seems to be more and more in jeopardy and when taking a look at the  NFL public betting trends, 74% of the bets placed against the spread are on the Rams. Even just a day ago, Cincy was favored by a full field goal.

Odds as of September 24th at Bet365. Claim a Bet365 promo code to wager on Rams vs Bengals and check out Bet365 Kentucky if you’re a resident of KY. 

With another loss, Cincinnati’s season might be over as they’d fall to 0-3, including two divisional losses.  The Rams are 1-1 heading into Monday Night Football, losing 30-23 to the favorites in the Super Bowl odds, the 49ers, last week.

Will Burrow Be on Field for Bengals?

Anything can happen, and the LSU product did participate in practice on Friday, but most of the signs are pointing to Burrow missing this contest. Some reports are saying that, if he misses this game, he may not play again until after the Bengals’ Week 7 bye.

Joe Burrow will be a game-time decision for Monday Night. The Bengals may choose to shut him down for up to a month to let his calf heal, per @RapSheet. pic.twitter.com/1blUHGcEOm

— Cincinnati 💔 (@CincyProblems) September 24, 2023

If Joe Cool can’t play, Jake Browning will likely make his first career start. He has thrown only one pass in the NFL, but won the backup quarterback job during training camp. Browning, 27, played at the University of Washington from 2015 to 2018.

Playing in the ultra competitive AFC North and having lost two divisional games already, this battle with the Rams has to feel like a must win for the Bengals, and that’s why there is so much pressure on Burrow to play. Since 1990, teams that start 0-3 have mad the playoffs just 2.5% of the time.

Teams to Start 0-3 and Make Playoffs

This will be the first Monday Night Football home game for Cincinnati in almost three years. Playing in prime time hasn’t exactly been kind to Cincy, as they are just 5-10 on Monday night since the turn of the century.

McVay and Rams Putting Last Season Behind Them

Yes, the Rams have a serious injury of their own they’re dealing with, as Cooper Kupp, the Super Bowl MVP against the Bengals a couple years ago, remains sidelined with a hamstring injury.

However, that’s a small obstacle compared to the injury-decimated lineup they were putting on the field consistently last season. It was a campaign to forget, as Los Angeles finished with a pitiful 5-12 record just a year after winning it all.

Matt Stafford looks healthy again and has thrown for over 300 yards in each of his starts this season. He’s also found a new weapon with Kupp out, as Puka Nacua has caught a ridiculous 25 balls for 266 yards in his first two NFL games. The Week 3 NFL player props show Nacua’s receiving yards over/under as high as 66.5 at some books.

Rams are listing WR Puka Nacua as questionable for Monday night’s game vs. the Bengals due to his oblique injury, but HC Sean McVay said he is expected to play.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 23, 2023

When you combine a pass rush led by the indomitable Aaron Donald with the Bengals recent woes and the high probability that Burrow won’t play, it’s no wonder that some pegged the Rams as the best NFL Week 3 upset pick.

Rams vs Bengals Prediction

Although the Rams struggled tremendously last season, they are 7-2 ATS in their last nine. In the Sean McVay era, they own a 5-4 mark on Monday Night Football.

For Cincy, they face a huge quandary. Undoubtedly, they have a higher chance of victory with Burrow under center, but he’s obviously not close to 100% and do you really want to put your franchise QB at risk?

Regardless, the Bengals will either start a hurting Burrow or an unknown and unproven Browning. Whoever Zac Taylor rolls with, our suggestion to you is roll with the Rams to score an upset and win straight up.

Rams vs Bengals Pick: Los Angeles Rams Moneyline (+110), 1 Unit

2023 NFL Picks’ Record: 2-2, + 0.21 Units