The Cincinnati Bengals and the Atlanta Falcons will continue their respective preseason schedules when they meet at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Friday night.
The Falcons will run out their starters on both sides of the ball in their second warm-up tilt Friday night vs. the Bengals. But with the spread sitting at -6.5 in favor of the home side, should preseason bettors be hitching their proverbial betting wagon to Trevor Siemian and Jake Browning and take the points with Cincinnati in the NFL odds?
Here are my free NFL picks and predictions for Bengals vs. Falcons on Friday, August 18.
Bengals vs Falcons odds
Bengals vs Falcons predictions
Last week, Green Bay’s offense put up 427 yards vs the Bengals, and fifth-round rookie Sean Clifford went 20 of 26 for 208 yards with four passes of 20-plus yards. Now Cincy’s defense will be playing its starters for just a single series vs. a heavy dose of starter Desmond Ridder and backup Taylor Heinicke on Friday night, as the Falcons will be running out starters on both sides of the ball.
“I’d love to get hit once or twice in that game just to shake some of the rust off”The #Falcons starters on BOTH sides of the ball are excited for their first preseason action on Friday night. Dispatch from Tuesday morning’s practice for @11AliveNews ?? pic.twitter.com/vMvC6H8tf6
— Reggie Chatman Jr. (@ReggieChatman) August 15, 2023
This line opened at Atlanta -5 earlier in the week thanks to the poor performance of the Bengals offense vs. the Packers. Trevor Siemian and Jake Browning (Friday’s starter) were both awful, as 12 of the team’s 19 points came on a pick-six and two field goals. Combined, the duo went 25 of 45 for 208 yards and two picks. They likely won’t be getting any help either on Friday, as the Bengals have not committed to playing their offensive starters in the second warm-up game.
It’s a big spread, but with Browning starting vs. Ridder, the Falcons could jump out to a decent lead early and not look back as the home side’s defensive starters are also ready to roll.
The Atlanta defense held Mike White and Skylar Thompson to just three points, 3-for-12 on third and fourth downs, and 0-for-3 in the red zone while generating four turnovers last week.
It’s the third-longest spread of the Week 2 preseason slate, but the personnel difference is warranted and the QB rotation is massively in favor of the home team.
As always, shop around, as Pinnacle is at -6 at the time of writing.
My best bet: Falcons -6 (-115 at Pinnacle)
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