Some early Week 9 odds are available from our friends at FanDuel Sportsbook, and they have the Chicago Bears as a 2.5-point road favorite over the Cincinnati Bengals.
Earlier today, the Bears (4-3) were thoroughly whipped by the Baltimore Ravens, 30 to 16, in a game that saw Chicago dominate the first quarter statistically, but only had a 6-0 lead to show for it after two field goals. The Ravens regrouped offensively, stiffened on defense, and took control of the game. This was the first game of the year
in which the Bears failed to score at least 21 points, and just the second game in which their defense failed to record a takeaway.
The Bengals (3-5) lost in a shootout to the New York Jets earlier today, 39 to 38, allowing the Jets to come back from a 31-16 fourth-quarter deficit. Bengals’ wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase continued racking up the catches with 12 for 91 yards, and in the three games with Joe Flacco as his quarterback, he has 38 receptions and 346 yards. Flacco has yet to throw an interception in his three games as a Bengal, but he threw six in his four games with the Cleveland Browns earlier this season.
With so many injuries in Chicago’s secondary, it’s no wonder FanDuel expects a high-scoring game with the over/under opening at 50.5 points.
What are your thoughts on the Bears being favored? Can Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams take advantage of a bad Bengals defense?
