During last night's weekly poker game, someone at the table makes a comment about Chad's "prediction" of the playoff dream.  While I had to agree with everybody there (Cowboys Fan, Patriots Fan,2 Bills Fans, Dolphin's Fan, Giant's fan) that a playoff berth is being extremely generous and very optimistic, I had to stick up for my team.

Then came the wager.

The Cowboys fan (btw he bets on sports regularly) says "OK, I'll bet you $50 that the Bengals can't finish .500"

My brain did some math, retracing dozens of posts and speculations from Cincy Jungle, and I took the bet.  The Bengals are 8-8 or better, I win.

Like every fan in preseason, the hopes and aspirations of how well their team will fare is high right now.  But being a Bengals fan is different.  We're less optomistic normally, or at least we are in the back of our minds.  I have been reserved talking smack, as the team needs to produce, but I just feel this year is different.  This year the Great Striped Pumpkin will rise out the Pumpkin Patch and be respectable.  In fact, I'd be just fine with 8-8, as we need to get out of the NFL doghouse and it's the only way to get over the thug jokes and the bungles monniker.

So, my question to you all, do you think I just gave my freind $50 or do we really stand a solid chance of being 8-8 or better?