NFL Odds – Bengals Hope To End Slide Against Visiting Dolphins Sunday

After consecutive wins (on the NFL odds as well), including a 15-10 victory over the division rival Baltimore Ravens and a 20-7 thumping of the Carolina Panthers, the Cincinnati Bengals have lost three straight to fall to third place in the AFC North at 2-4. Head coach Marvin Lewis is hoping his team can get back on track at home this week, when they take on a strong road team in the Miami Dolphins at Paul Brown Stadium. 

Miami Dolphins @ Cincinnati Bengals

Sunday October 31, 2010 – 1:00 PM ET

Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio

Broadcast: CBS

NFL Odds: Dolphins +1.5, Bengals -1.5

Total: 44

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The last time that the Bengals were in front of their home crowd, they were choking away a close 24-21 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a game they really should have won. The Dolphins are 3-0 on the road this season, and represent the first of consecutive home games for Cincinnati, with a visit from the Pittsburgh Steelers the following week. 

NFL Odds: What The Dolphins Will Have To Do To Win 

Miami Dolphins has emerged as perhaps the strongest road team in the NFL, with all three of their wins coming away from home, which doesn’t bode well for the Bengals. Despite running backs Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams each averaging over four yards per carry, the Miami rushing game ranks 16 th in the league with 107 yards per game. The Dolphins will have to find a way to be more consistent on offense, at least until the defense can regain the form they showed the first two weeks of the season. Miami allowed ten points in each of two wins to open the season, but have not allowed less than 20 since. 

NFL Odds: What The Bengals Will Have To Do To Win 

The Bengals rank sixth in the league in pass offense, averaging just over 270 yards per game, with quarterback Carson Palmer making sure that both Terrell Owens and Chad Ocho Cinco get their share of passes. Owens and Ocho Cinco have already combined for just under 1000 yards and five touchdowns, but as long as the Cincinnati defense isn’t stopping anyone it really won’t matter. The Bengals have allowed 23 or more points in three straight losses, including conceding 39 in a loss at the Atlanta Falcons last week. Cincinnati Bengals ranks in the bottom third of the league against both the run and pass, and will need to be better to stop their winless slide. 

NFL Odds: Outlook & Pick 

While the Dolphins have struggled at home, they’ve been solid on the road, with notable wins over both the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers. The Bengals’ defense was stellar last season, but has looked soft this year, including a dismal performance coming off the bye last week in allowing 39 points against the Falcons. Miami will take advantage of that soft defense, while their defense will bring pressure from the 3-4 to confuse Palmer and disrupt the passing game. 

NFL Odds Pick: Dolphins +1.5