Bet the Football Spread – Patriots vs Bengals

The New England Patriots and the Cincinnati Bengals begin the 2010 NFL season as 2009 defending division titleholders, but both are going to have trouble holding on to those titles as they face increased competition in their respective divisions. They open the season against each other at Gillette Stadium, home of the Patriots, and looking at the football spread, the odds makers like the Patriots to get the season started right.

The NFL odds have set the Patriots as the -4½-point favorites and a bet on the underdog Bengals to win straight up will pay NFL bettors +180 on the moneyline. 

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Football Spread, Total and Moneyline
September 12, 2010

Cincinnati Bengals            +4½ -110              +180     
New England Patriots     -4½ -110               -220

Game Total         44½

Location: Gillette Stadium – Foxborough MA
Game Time: 1:00pm
TV: CBS

Bengals coach Marvin Lewis must work as a social worker in his spare time as he never has a problem bringing in players with a criminal past or players that have been known as a disruption and sometimes it works, other times not so much.

This year will be interesting as they are the defending NFC North Champions but they are underdogs to repeat, as the Baltimore Ravens look so strong.  If the team doesn’t win as much as they should, it could cause problems with the Bengals’ newest additions wide receiver Terrell Owens and corner back Adam “Don’t call me Pacman” Jones.

Owens and his BFF Chad Ocho Cinco have been attached at the hip and so far so good, he’s happy and ready to contribute.

Jones is a talented corner but with his several run-ins with the law, you have to wonder how long he can hold it together, especially if the Bengals have an extended losing streak.

The New England Patriots will look to defend their AFC East title, as they have over much of the past decade. Coach Bill Belichick cobles together a bunch of lesser talented players to play along with the Uber-talented Tom Brady and for the past few years, Randy Moss.

Brady has worked out a $50 million dollar contract extension and he should play up to it, but Randy Moss is asking “Where’s mine?” Making your best receiver wait for his contract extension may not be a good idea for most teams, think Vincent Jackson, but with Moss, it’s likely he’ll play with a huge chip on his shoulder and that means he’ll be the best receiver on the field no matter who the Patriots play.

Looking at Sunday’s game, I like the Pats as a better overall team but they have huge holes in their secondary and with Chad Ocho Cinco and Terrell Owens playing for the Bengals, they should score a few through the air.  If this game was three points, I’d be on the Patriots, but the football spread of 4½ makes me lean towards the Bengals.

NFL betting pick: Cincinnati Bengals +4½