Bengals at Bears odds, betting trends, expert picks and predictions

The Cincinnati Bengals remain underdogs on the road against the Chicago Bears. However, the story behind the numbers shows that oddsmakers and especially experts are starting to think differently about this Bengals team led by Joe Burrow.

Whether it was the Zac Taylor just getting a job via his connection with Sean McVay, Burrow wanting to avoid Cincinnati, Ja’Marr Chase being a bust or that they should have just drafted Penei Sewell instead, these narratives seem to be slipping away. How much would an upset on the road do to expedite that?

Odds

The Bengals are currently on 2.5-point underdogs on the road, according to Bovada. They opened at 5.5-point underdogs, which means people have been betting pretty heavily on Cincinnati.

It also helps that the Bears seem to have the same issues that the Vikings had on offense along the offensive line, which should make pressuring Dalton fairly easy. It may come down to how well this line protects Burrow after getting whooped in Week 1.

Betting trends

• Cincinnati are 4-9 straight up in their last 13 games.
• Cincinnati are 1-18-1 straight up in their last 20 games on the road.
• Cincinnati are 4-2 straight up in their last six games when playing on the road against Chicago.
• The total has gone under in five of Cincinnati’s last six games against an opponent in the NFC.
• Cincinnati are 6-2 against the spread in their last eight games against an opponent in the NFC North.
• Cincinnati are 9-3-1 against the spread in their last 13 games played in September.
• Chicago are 3-7 against the spread in their last 10 games.
• The total has gone over in four of Chicago’s last five games.
• Chicago are 3-9 straight up in their last 12 games.
• Chicago are 1-4 straight up in their last five games at home.
• Chicago are 2-4 straight up in their last six games when playing at home against Cincinnati.
• The total has gone under in five of Chicago’s last six games against an opponent in the AFC.
• Chicago are 5-0 against the spread in their last five games against an opponent in the AFC North.
• The total has gone over in four of Chicago’s last six games played in September.
• Chicago are 1-5 against the spread in their last six games played in week 2.

Expert picks

• ESPN has six of their 11 experts going with the Bengals
• Only three of CBS Sport’s eight experts are taking Cincinnati
• Four of Bleacher Report’s six experts have the Bengals starting 2-0
• NFL Pick Watch, which takes into account picks from across the web, has the Bengals receiving 59 percent of the picks.

It feels like it has been awhile since the experts have thought this highly of the Bengals. Bleacher Report even noted that this could be a sign of Cincinnati turning a corner with Burrow.

The Bears certainly the toughest matchup that the Bengals will face all season. However, it would still mean quite a bit to this young team with tons of new faces to start off 2-0 after the struggles of the past two seasons. We can already see perception shifting at a national level.