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According to the Week 14 NFL Betting Lines, the Bengals can win easily against the Bears.

NFL Preseason Week 4 Odds & Betting Preview: Bengals at Colts

Written by on August 29, 2017

NFL News and Rumors
The Indianapolis Colts and Cincinnati Bengals will both look to end their respective NFL preseason campaigns on a positive note when the Colts host the Bengals on Thursday night live from Lucas Oil Stadium in a Week 4 matchup that will reveal a lot about both teams’ backups. If you’re wondering where the value lies and what the NFL betting odds are for this matchup, then let’s find out right now.

NFL Preseason Week 4 Odds & Betting Preview: Bengals at Colts

When: Thursday, August 31, 2017 at 7:00 PM ET Where: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana TV: NFL Network Radio: WLW 700 AM (Cincinnati) / WFNI 1070 AM (Indianapolis) Live Stream: NFL Game Pass NFL Odds: Indianapolis -2 / Total: 36.5

Weather Forecast

  • Overcast: 24°C/76°F
  • Humidity: 57%
  • Precipitation: 1%
  • Wind: 9 mph NE
  • Cloud Cover: 85%
  • Type of Stadium: Retractable

Why Bet the Cincinnati Bengals NFL Preseason Odds at +2?

Cincinnati was on the wrong end of a 23-17 Week 3 preseason loss to Washington that dropped them to 1-2 in the scrimmage season. Starting quarterback Andy Dalton completed 8 of 13 passes for 70 yards in the first half while leading the Bengals to one score on Jeremy Hill’s 3-yard run. With the score 7-3, Bengals controversial linebacker Vontaze Burfict intercepted a pass by Washington starting quarterback Kirk Cousins and returned it 62 yards for a touchdown. As a matter of fact, Cincinnati backup quarterback A.J. McCarron completed 7 of 13 passes for 82 yards. While third-stringer Jeff Driskel completed 2 of 3 for 33 yards in mop-up duty. No. 1 wide receiver A.J. Green had a team-high four catches for 43 yards while second-year wideout Alex Erickson added three catches for 51 yards. Running back Joe Mixon rushed for a team-high 31 yards on eight carries. More importantly, first-round draft pick John Ross, who had labrum surgery following the NFL Scouting Combine, saw his first action and ran the ball once for eight yards while veteran running back Giovani Bernard also made his first appearance since tearing his ACL last November, while rushing four times for 25 yards.

Team Statistics

  • Offensive total yards 356.94
  • Current Offensive rush yards 110.56
  • Offensive passing yards 246.38
  • Average Score For 20.31
  • Defensive total yards 350.75
  • Current Defensive rush yards 113.25
  • Defensive passing yards 237.50
  • Average Score Against 19.69

Must Bet Odds & Props for 2017 NFL Season

Why Bet the Indianapolis Colts NFL Preseason Odds at -2?

The Indianapolis Colts picked got their first victory of the scrimmage campaign in Week 3 by surprising the Pittsburgh Steelers to pick up a 19-15 win despite being a solid 9-point road underdog at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh. Veteran backup quarterback Scott Tolzien completed 7 of 10 passes for 123 yards and one interception while leading Indianapolis to a 13-6 halftime lead before departing. The Indianapolis Colts picked got their first victory of the scrimmage campaign in NFL preseason Week 3. Third-string signal-caller Stephen Morris was even better in completing 12 of 15 passes for 143 yards while leading the Indianapolis offense on a 14-play, 86-yard drive midway through the fourth quarter that ended on running back Josh Ferguson’s 1-yard plunge. Defensively, Indianapolis recorded one sack and one interception while linebacker Darnell Sankey recorded a game-high eight tackles.

Team Statistics

  • Offensive total yards 364.44
  • Current Offensive rush yards 101.81
  • Offensive passing yards 262.62
  • Average Score For 25.69
  • Defensive total yards 382.88
  • Current Defensive rush yards 120.38
  • Defensive passing yards 262.50
  • Average Score Against 24.50

Team Series History

  • Total Meetings: 29
  • First Meeting: December 26th, 1970. Memorial Stadium. Baltimore, Maryland
  • Last Meeting: January 4th, 2015. Lucas Oil Stadium. Indianapolis, Indiana
  • All-Time Series: Indianapolis 19-10-0
  • Largest Margin of Victory: Indianapolis 35-3 (2008)
  • Longest Win Streak: Indianapolis 7 (1998-2010)
  • Current Win Streak: Indianapolis 2 (2014-2015)

Expert Analysis and NFL Preseason Prediction

While 58 percent of the betting public likes Cincinnati to get the road win and ATS cover, I disagree and urge you to back the Indianapolis Colts to hold it down at home. Not only are the Colts 12-2-1 ATS in their last 15 Thursday games, but Cincinnati is just 2-5 ATS in its last seven road games and 1-4 ATS in their last five road dates against the Colts. In addition to all of this, I like the way Indy backup Stephen Morris has played this preseason and I believe he will lead the Colts to another win while challenging Scott Tolzien for the No. 2 spot behind the injured Andrew Luck. With the favorite and home team in this series going an identical 4-0 ATS, I say keep it simple and back the Colts to cover.

NFL Preseason Pick: Indianapolis 21 Cincinnati 17

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