Two teams trying to stay in their respective playoff spots meet up when the 49ers battle the Ben-gals for what should be a good inter-conference bout Sunday afternoon at Paul Brown Stadium. If the postseason started today, both these teams would be in, but both also lost last week, and another loss would probably knock them out, at least for the moment.
Cincinnati opened as a short home favorite for this game, but early betting action flipped the Bengals into home dogs. Which way are we going here with our free NFL betting pick?
49ers-Bengals Betting Odds
The Week 14 NFL betting odds opened Cincinnati as a two-point favorite for Sunday, with an over/under of right around 47. Early betting action then flipped San Francisco into 1.5-point chalk and bumped that total to 48.5.
49ers Betting Preview
San Francisco just had a three-game winning streak snapped by a 30-23 loss at Seattle last week. The 49ers gave up a 73-yard fake punt for a touchdown to fall behind 7-0 early but led 17-7 in the second quarter and 23-21 at the half. The Niners then came up completely empty offensively in the second half, botched a late chance to force overtime, and lost a game they were favored by three points to win.
The 49ers actually out-gained the Seahawks 365-327, and, as mentioned above, 73 of the yards San Francisco gave up came on one play. But the Niners also turned the ball over three times and gave up a safety.
San Francisco has now out-gained each of its last four opponents and out-rushed three of its last four foes.
Two games ago, the 49ers scored 34 points through the first three quarters and beat Minnesota 34-26; three games ago, they won at Jacksonville 30-10; and four games ago, the Niners beat the rival Rams 31-10.
At 6-6 overall, San Francisco won’t catch 10-2 Arizona in the NFC West, but it also owns the No. 7 spot in the NFC playoff standings at the moment, a half-game ahead of No. 8 Philadelphia.
Bengals Betting Preview
Cincinnati, meanwhile, just had a two-game mini-run snapped by a 41-22 home loss to the Chargers last week. The Bengals, favored by 2.5 points, gave up the first 24 points of the game but rallied to within 24-13 at the half. Cincinnati then pulled to within 24-22 and was driving to take the lead but fumbled the ball away into a Chargers defensive touchdown, which basically killed the comeback.
The Bengals got out-gained by the Chargers 363-356 and lost the turnover battle 4-3, resulting in at least a -4 points differential. They also had a couple of key bounces go the wrong way.
Two weeks ago, Cincinnati pounded Pittsburgh 41-10, and three weeks ago, it rolled Las Vegas 32-13. So we thought the Bengals were on the improve and headed to the playoffs. Then they played a stinker for us last week.
Nonetheless, at 7-5 overall, Cincinnati trails division-leading Baltimore by just one game in the AFC North, and the Bengals own the head-to-head tie-breaker on the Ravens, with one meeting yet to go. Cincy also owns the No. 6 spot in the AFC playoff standings.
These two teams, opponents in two past Super Bowls, met most recently two seasons ago, a 41-17 San Francisco victory also at Paul Brown Stadium. Jimmy Garoppolo quarterbacked the 49ers that day against Andy Dalton for the Bengals.
- Get more details: San Francisco at Cincinnati Betting Stats
Common Opponents
These two teams have played five common opponents this season; San Francisco is 4-1 both SU and ATS against the Packers, Lions, Bears, Vikings, and Jaguars and +67 yards per game, while Cincinnati is 3-2 SU, 2-3 ATS and +31 YPG vs. those five foes.
More Week 14 Picks: Bills at Bucs Week 14 Best Bet >>>
NFL Betting Trends
- Home teams are just 92-98 SU, 109-81 ATS in the NFL this season.
- Home dogs are 37-41 ATS in the NFL this season.
Totals Report
Overs are 7-5 in 49ers games this season, which are averaging 48.5 total points.
The totals are split 6-6 in Bengals games this season, which are averaging 50 points.
After going 9-5 last week, the Unders are a lopsided 109-84 in the NFL this season.
