NFL Experts Largely Favor The Cincinnati Bengals Over The Miami Dolphins

I've never understood the need to predict the actual score of a game. Though one could argue it dictates the level of confidence someone has regarding their pick -- a two-score prediction is far more confident than a field goal. But we actually get the whole idea -- turned debate -- into picking NFL games. Hell we do it. We're not very good at it. Like at all.

As for the Bengals and Dolphins this weekend, most NFL experts have the Bengals beating the Miami Dolphins. Peter King projects that the Bengals will win 23-20, writing:

Another battle of the kid Southwest Conference quarterbacks. Andy Dalton 305 yards, two touchdowns ... Ryan Tannehill 220, one. But it's hard to watch Tannehill right now and not think the Dolphins got it right, picking him in the top 10.

On a personal note, I have to admit that it feels good seeing one of the more respective NFL journalists and writers sporting a sub-.500 record this season, validating my claim that the NFL is the most unpredictable sport in the world (except for games involving the Cleveland Browns).

All 12 NFL experts that predict weekly games have the Bengals beating the Dolphins, which also includes Accuscore and the Pick 'em game that fans use to predict weekly winners. The CBSSports.com crew is more divided, with Jason La Canfora, Dave Richard and Ryan Wilson picking the Dolphins over Cincinnati. Pete Prisco, Clark Judge, Mike Freeman, Will Brinson and Josh Katzowitz are far more reasonable and objective with their Bengals over Dolphins picks.

Elliot Harris with NFL.com predicts that Cincinnati will beat Miami 23-17.

And over at Bengals.com, Artrell Hawkins with the Bengals Radio Network, Alex Marvez with Foxsports.com and Sirius Radio and Rich Gannon who will call the game this weekend for CBS all have the Bengals beating Miami, with the lone dissenting voice being Ben Volin, who is the beat writer for the Palm Beach Post.

What's your prediction?