Monday Night NFL Props – Can Bengals Get Off to a Good Start?

As we look at the Monday night NFL props for tonight’s game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals, we are faced with a team in Cincinnati that hasn’t played with much of a spark this season in the process of defending their AFC North title, but can they get off to a good start in this one?

That’s one of the questions asked in our menu of Monday night NFL props, as the Steelers are a -145 favorite to score first, with the Bengals priced at +115. The game is scheduled to kick off at 8:30 PM ET at Paul Brown Stadium (natural turf) in Cincinnati.

[Off topic: by the way, do you want to get a 55% bonus on your first deposit here at BetOnline? If so JOIN NOW.]

Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2 SU, 4-3 ATS) at Cincinnati Bengals (2-5 SU & ATS)

Live at Paul Brown Stadium
Cincinnati, O
Monday, November 8 — 8:30 PM ET
TV: ESPN

NFL Odds:

Pittsburgh -5.5
Cincinnati +5.5
Total 41

FIRST TO SCORE

Steelers -145
Bengals +115

The first quarter has not been the best for either of these two teams. In seven games, both Pittsburgh and Cincinnati have scored 24 points. Not that it’s so unusual for an NFL team, but that is not the most productive quarter for either crew.

Cincinnati scores more points in the second half (90, averaging out to just less than 14 a game) than the first (eight per game). Pittsburgh has scored eleven points on average in the first half. I’m not sure that either team has any discernible advantage, so I don’t mind taking this price with the Bengals at home.

JAY’S PLAY: BENGALS +115 **
(Graded on a scale of 1-4 stars)

——————————————

FIRST SCORE OF THE GAME

Touchdown -140
Any Other +110

Let’s take a look at this with a little math as well. The Bengals have scored 15 touchdowns and 14 field goals. Their opponents have 18 TD’s and 12 field goals.

In other words, there have been 33 TD’s and 26 field goals in their games, so TD’s are scored at a percentage of .560, which makes it about a -130 proposition that any score in their game is going to be a touchdown.

As far as the Steleers are concerned, they’ve scored 16 touchdowns and 12 field goals, while the opposition has just eight TD’s and 15 field goals. That’s 47% TD’s in their games, which puts them in the vicinity of +115.

You’ve got a 52%-48% ratio of touchdowns versus field goals all told. You can go into all kinds of other calculations as to what happens int he first quarter, the first drive. etc., but it looks from here like we would probably rather be on the "Any Other" side.

JAY’S PLAY: ANY OTHER (+110) *
(Graded on a scale of 1-4 stars)

———————————-

CARSON PALMER – TOTAL PASSING YARDS

Over 215.5 yards -115
Under 215.5 yards -115

CARSON PALMER – TOTAL COMPLETIONS

Over 21.5 completions -120
Under 21.5 completions -110

Carson Palmer has not been known lately as a guy who gets the ball far down the field. His 6.6 yard-per-attempt average is below his 7.1-yard career average. But he is averaging 265 yards a game, which is well above what he threw for last season.

One of the reasons is that Cedric Benson isn’t quite at the numbers he achieved last year (running for a little less than 20 fewer yards a game). Palmer throws intermediate routes, and he has the set of receivers that are well-suited to that kind of approach.

Neither Terrell Owens nor Chad Ochocinco are deep threats at this point; they’re better when running after the catch. Jordan Shipley is a slot receiver. Tight end Jermaine Gresham has averaged 6.9 yards a reception, but he’s caught 29 passes.

Since Pittsburgh has allowed only 2.6 yards a rushing attempt, I figure Palmer’s game plan is going to be to throw it often.

JAY’S PLAYS: OVER 215.5 YARDS (-115) *** and OVER 21.5 COMPLETIONS (-120) ***
(Graded on a scale of 1-4 stars)

Beat the Monday Night NFL props available right now at BetOnline Sportsbook!