It’s a battle of the backups this Sunday as the Cincinnati Bengals travel to Minnesota to take on the Vikings. Starters Joe Burrow and J.J. McCarthy are each out with injury, so Jake Browning and Carson Wentz have been called into duty.
Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. EST, with the game airing on CBS. Those looking to wager on this matchup are in luck: sportsbooks offer a variety of markets available to users, providing a more vested interest in the game.
The oddsmakers favor Pittsburgh ahead of kickoff as the Steelers are 3-point favorites across all of Ohio’s top sportsbooks. The over/under for the game is being offered between 43.5 and 44 points, depending on the platform.
Bengals vs. Vikings predictions and best bets
Carson Wentz Over 9.5 Rushing Yards: -122 at FanDuel
Ja’Marr Chase Over 5.5 Receptions: -154 at FanDuel
Noah Fant Over 1.5 Receptions: -200 at BetMGM
Carson Wentz has been a backup for two years now, but we’ve still seen him in spot starts in that time. In 2024, he started for the Los Angeles Rams under Sean McVay, who Kevin O’Connell worked under as an offensive coordinator, and the quarterback ran for 56 yards.
Even if O’Connell doesn’t have Wentz run as often, we can expect a similar aggressiveness, letting the QB use his legs and go over the 10-yard marker.
Jake Browning entered the game midway through the second quarter, and his game plan was simple– find Ja’Marr Chase. That was executed well, as Chase had 10 catches from Browning alone and 14 in total on the day. That should make six receptions a piece of cake this Sunday.
Looking back at Browning’s past stint as the Bengals starter, the quarterback was targeting tight ends at a high clip. Tanner Hudson had around 4.5 targets per game, and Drew Sample had over two.
Expect Noah Fant and Mike Gesicki each to remain involved in the passing attack while Browning is under center.
Bengals vs. Vikings moneyline analysis
Why Vikings could win as the favorite
Best odds: -148 at FanDuel
The Vikings are the projected favorite across the board in this matchup for all major sportsbooks. DraftKings Sportsbook gives Miami the best chance of victory, offering a moneyline of -162, with FanDuel offering the best value to bettors at -148.
The Vikings enter Week 3 following a loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday Night. But with Carson Wentz under center, the team may be able to get a fresh start on offense with less focus on the development and confidence of their young quarterback.
A key piece of the Vikings’ struggles thus far is the team’s inconsistency on defense. The unit has the second-lowest defensive grade from PFF, ranking in the bottom five in run defense, tackling, and coverage.
While this isn’t something to dismiss entirely, we know Brian Flores and the Vikings defense have been strong with him as defensive coordinator. In a small two-week sample size, it’s safe to assume the defensive issues will sort themselves out.
This team struggled last week, but they remain 1-1 and have the firepower all over the roster to win and control football games. With the reliable coaching and veteran experience under center this week, they’re in a good position to win as oddsmakers expect.
Why Bengals could win as the underdog
Best odds: +136 at DraftKings
Oddsmakers across all top sportsbooks view the Bengals as underdogs, but the lines offered vary by platform. Fanatics Sportsbook gives Cincinnati the best chance to win with a moneyline of +130, while DraftKings provides the best value at +136.
With Jake Browning under center, the Bengals offense likely takes a step back, but the quarterback has proven that he can run the offense and keep it productive. Browning started seven games for the team in 2023 and went 4-3 in that span, keeping the team in the AFC playoff race.
That success continued when Browning stepped in this past Sunday as the Bengals produced 24 of their 31 points with the backup in the game, including a 15-play 92-yard drive that resulted in a go-ahead touchdown to beat the Jacksonville Jaguars. While the team will have to make adjustments, it is still very competitive with Browning at quarterback.
Defense was an issue for Cincinnati last year, but the team has shown growth thus far. Through two weeks, the team has the seventh-highest PFF grade of all defenses and has four interceptions on the year– tied for second in the NFL.
History is on Cincinnati’s side in this matchup, but there isn’t much familiarity between these two cross-conference foes. These teams have faced off just five times in the past 20 years, but their last two meetings both went to overtime, resulting in wins for the Bengals, 27-24.