The Detroit Lions travel to take on the Cincinnati Bengals this Sunday for a Week 5 showdown. Led by Jake Browning, the Bengals are hoping to revive their early-season success after dropping their last two games.
Kickoff is set for 4:25 p.m. ET, with the game airing on FOX. 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 Detroit ahead of kickoff as the Lions are 10 to 10.5-point favorites depending on which of Michigan’s top sportsbooks you’re using. The over/under for the game is being offered at 48.5 and 49.5 points.
Lions vs. Bengals predictions and best bets
Lions -10: -110 at Fanatics
Lions Alternate Total over 27.5 points: -155 at DraftKings
David Montgomery Over 50.5 Rushing Yards: -120 at Fanatics
If you can’t tell by the three pro-Detroit props, I expect the Lions to control this game. A high-powered offense that’s never been afraid to run up the score against a defense that has allowed the sixth-most points per game this season bodes well for Detroit to cover.
To cover the Lions, they will need to put up points, and DraftKings offers solid value on the team scoring 28 or more this weekend. The team has scored 34 or more points in its past three games; I like them to hit at least 28 today.
The Bengals have allowed 355 yards rushing in the past two games, and a large part of that is due to the offense’s inability to sustain drives without Joe Burrow. I expect David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs to have success on the ground if that continues.
Lions vs. Bengals moneyline analysis
Why Lions could win as the favorite
Best odds: -550 at Fanatics
The Lions are the projected favorite across the board in this matchup for all major sportsbooks. DraftKings Sportsbook gives Detroit the best chance of victory, offering a moneyline of -600, with Fanatics offering the best value to bettors at -550.
Many questioned the Lions after they opened the season with a 27-13 loss to the Green Bay Packers, but Detroit has bounced back with three straight victories, scoring 34 points or more.
The team has found its rhythm, and the offense is once again looking like a top unit in the league. Its well-balanced attack has made the team difficult to stop, as the Lions rank in the top 10 of the league for both passing yards and rushing yards per game.
That success doesn’t end on the defense. Detroit has the sixth-highest graded defense, according to PFF, with a rating of 76.1. The unit is centered around an electric front seven that features Defensive Player of the Year front-runner, Aidan Hutchinson.
He and Al-Quadin Muhammad each rank in the top 10 for sacks across the NFL to keep opposing quarterbacks uneasy all game. A bad sign for a Bengals offensive line that allows 3.3 sacks per game, tied for the fourth-most in the league.
Why Bengals could win as the underdog
Best odds: +440 at FanDuel
Oddsmakers across all the 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 +400, while FanDuel provides the best value at +440.
Things haven’t been going well for the Bengals as of late, but the team still has plenty of talent throughout its roster to turn things around. This will be their second game at home this season, after two straight losses on the road.
Wideouts Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins are top-35 graded PFF wideouts who can create splash plays when given the right opportunities. Whichever draws Terrion Arnold on the outside has an advantage mismatch based on the cornerback’s struggles this season.
Although Jake Browning has underwhelmed through his first two starts, he has proven himself capable of producing in the past. He should perform better against a Detroit team that has a nearly 10% drop in pressure percentage compared to the Broncos and Vikings, who reigned terror on the QB in the team’s past two losses.