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Andrew Rogers
Bengals vs. Seahawks Point Spread: NFL Predictions, Week 1 Odds
Two teams with major question marks at wide receiver square off Sunday afternoon in the Pacific Northwest as the Seattle Seahawks kick off their 2019 regular-season schedule against the visiting Cincinnati Bengals. Seattle comes into the season as the No. 2 favourite to win the NFC West, with Russell Wilson back to lead the offence. Cincinnati could be in tough to compete in the AFC North, and is down its No. 1 receiver to start the season.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Only the Philadelphia Eagles have a larger Week 1 advantage in the eyes of oddsmakers than the Seahawks, who opened at -8 but have seen the line swell a point-and-a-half. And Sports Interaction bettors are leaning toward the home team at a 73-percent clip. But Seattle hasn’t been a great cover option in these situations, going just 2-4 ATS in their last six as a favourite of 9+ points. And Cincinnati has covered each of its previous four road games.
Given that both teams are dealing with offensive shortfalls, it’s modestly surprising that the total of 44 isn’t a bit lower; Sports Interaction participants are nearly split down the middle between the over and the under. These teams come in with vastly different September totals trends; the Bengals have finished above the number in each of their previous five games in the month, while the Seahawks are 9-3 in favour of the under in their past 12 September contests.
Cincinnati Bengals
Not only do the Bengals have to deal with offensive line issues that plagued them for most of the 2018 season, they’ll also have to make do without A.J. Green for at least the next few weeks. Green suffered torn ankle ligaments during the team’s first training camp practice, and his return date remains in doubt. The oft-injured receiver appeared in just nine games last season; the Bengals were 5-4 SU with him in the lineup and 1-6 SU without him.
Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks are dealing with their own major absence from last year’s receiving corps following the offseason retirement of Doug Baldwin. That leaves Tyler Lockett as the biggest receiving threat left over from the 2018 season – but the Seahawks are hopeful that rookie D.K. Metcalf will provide some receiver help in Baldwin’s absence. It might not matter much, anyhow, if Seattle opts for a run-heavy attack led by feature back Chris Carson.
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