NFL Betting Advice – Struggling Bengals Welcome Defending Super Bowl Champions

After opening their season with wins in two of their first three games, the Cincinnati Bengals have lost eight straight games to fall to the bottom of the standings in the AFC Betting North.

Those giving NFL betting advice know that they were a team that was projected to return to the postseason one year after winning the division but is now mired in its worst losing streak since Marvin Lewis took over as the team’s head coach. Next up for the Bengals: A date with the defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints.

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NFL Betting Advice: New Orleans Saints @ Cincinnati Bengals

Sunday December 5, 2010 – 1:00 PM ET

Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio

Broadcast: FOX

Football Odds: Saints -6.5, Bengals +6.5

Total: 46

The Saints have won four straight games to pull to within one win of the NFC South division-leading Atlanta Falcons. New Orleans will have a tough time closing that gap with three of their final five games on the road, including trips to Baltimore and Atlanta later in the month, but can certainly help their cause with a crucial win this Sunday in Cincinnati.

NFL Betting Advice: What The Saints Will Have To Do To Win?

The Saints have been firing on all cylinders over the past month, scoring at least 30 points in each of their past three wins. Quarterback Drew Brees and the New Orleans’ offense will need to keep that streak going this week, with the Pro Bowl signal-caller coming off another 352-yard performance in last weekend’s win over the Cowboys. The Saints rank third in the league in both pass offense and pass defense, and that should translate well against the Bengals. Frustrating wide receivers Terrell Owens and Chad Ocho Cinco early on will be the key, as Cincinnati’s offense has unraveled this season when it faces adversity.

NFL Betting Advice: What The Bengals Will Have To Do To Win?

The biggest challenge for Cincinnati will be stopping Brees and the Saints’ air attack. The Bengals’ defense has been a sore spot this season, and are ranked 15thagainst the pass, and 23rdagainst the run. Cincinnati managed just 163 yards of total offense in last Thursday’s loss to the New York Jets, and will need to take advantage of the extra couple of days off to get things together on both sides of the ball. The current eight-game slide represents the longest losing skid the Bengals have suffered under Lewis, and a ninth straight loss could very well spell the end of his tenure with the franchise.

NFL Betting Advice: Outlook & Pick

While the Bengals get the extra three days of rest after playing on Thanksgiving Thursday, that will mean nothing against a Saints’ team that is fighting for position in the NFC South. New Orleans will need to take advantage of a weak schedule the next two games before bracing for consecutive road contests against the Ravens and Falcons. Cincinnati is nowhere near the level of play they would need to be at to top the defending Super Bowl champions.

NFL Betting Advice: Saints -6.5