Bengals at Lions: Picks, Spreads, Odds, and Predictions

The Bengals have a 4 game winning streak against the Lions. They have not lost in Detroit since 1970. That being said, they enter the game as a 2.5 point underdog. The over under on the game is 42.5.

On the WhoDey Weekly podcast I predicted that A.J. Green would find the end zone 3 times. Our own Anthony Cosenza thinks the combined score of the Lions and Bengals breaks 80. Lets see what the media thinks.

Name	Pick	Score	Blurb
Elliot Harrison - NFL.com		28 - 24	Neither of these clubs have been particularly consistent, yet with Calvin Johnson still not 100 percent and Nate Burleson not ready, we're taking Cincinnati on the road. The Lions can't rely on Joseph Fauria to score three times again, especially against a defense as talented as the Bengals' -- which has, nonetheless, been quite erratic. This is the group, after all, that allowed Thad Lewis to hit some big plays and come back from two scores down last Sunday. The important thing for Marvin Lewis is that Jim Schwartz's team is as up-and-down as his own Bengals squad. And boom goes the dynamite. The keys will be what kind of push Cincinnati gets against Detroit's defensive front and how well the tandem of BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Giovani Bernard performs
Don Banks - SI		24 - 20	For a game that features a pair of 4-2 division leaders with talent galore on defense and glamor receivers, the sizzle factor still feels lacking. But the Lions have to be considered one of the pleasant surprises of this 2013 season, and if they can hold serve at home against the Bengals and Cowboys the next two weeks, they'll hit their Week 9 bye at 6-2 and in sole possession of first place in the NFC North. There were a lot of preseason predictions that had either Green Bay or Chicago winning the division, but I didn't detect much enthusiasm for another Detroit revival.
Pete Prisco - CBS		24 - 20	The Bengals are playing consecutive road games outside the division. That's always tough. But I like the Bengals here. The Lions have defensive issues, ranking 26th, and the Bengals have a lot of weapons. I also like Cincinnati's defensive front against the Lions' offensive line.
Coley Harvey - ESPN		24 - 23	Cincinnati has to win on the road. Last week, it proved that it can. With a defense that's up to the challenge of stifling an offense full of offensive weapons, the Bengals just need to have another strong outing from Andy Dalton in order to win. They'll get it.
Michael Rothstein - ESPN		31 - 28	Went back and forth on this. A.J. Green is going to be a major factor and should beat up a banged-up Detroit secondary. But the Lions have played well for three of four halves at home this season, and Ford Field should be a raucous atmosphere with the Lions making a playoff push. A David Akers field goal late is the difference.
Greg Cote - Miami Herald		27 - 24	Always hesitate to saddle up a team as inconsistent as Detroit over a team with an upside like Cincy, which is in sole possession of its division lead for first time since 2009. But here I must. Make it a venue call founded on this: Lions are a chaos-producing defense with 13 takeaways, and Andy Dalton was absent the day God doled out advice on taking care of the football.
Mike Florio - ProFootballTalk		27 - 20	Usually, the Bengals play up and down to the level of the competition. This week, the competition level is roughly equivalent. And the Lions won in Cleveland, where the Bengals lost handily. Oh, and Calvin Johnson appears to be getting healthy.
Michael David Smith - ProFootballTalk		20 - 17	Overall the Bengals are a more talented team than the Lions, and a good Cincinnati secondary is going to make things tough for Detroit's offense. But the Lions have played well at home and the Bengals have been shaky on the road, and so I'm going to take the Lions.

Then there are the experts that pick the winners without a score projection or a writeup. Some of those are here:

Media Guy	Pick
Marcus Allen - ESPN
Mike Golic - ESPN
Merril Hoge - ESPN
Ron Jaworski - ESPN
Chris Mortensen - ESPN
Adam Schefter - ESPN
Mark Schlereth - ESPN
Tom Jackson - ESPN
Keyshawn Johnson - ESPN
Mike Ditka - ESPN
Chris Carter - ESPN
Jason La Canfora - CBS
Josh Katzowitz - CBS
Ryan Wilson - CBS

When I ran the simulation at WhatIfSports.com, the Bengals come up with a win on the road.

This is going to be a rough game.

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