The Cincinnati Bengals kicked off the NFL’s Week 4 slate with a 27-15 victory over the Miami Dolphins, evening their record to 2-2 on the young season. Star QB Joe Burrow completed 64% of his passes for 287 yards and two TDs, including a 59-yard score to WR Tee Higgins.
The victory allowed the Bengals to return to .500 after an 0-2 start in 2022. Cincinnati’s losses to start the season were against the Pittsburgh Steelers (who are searching for a competent QB) and the Dallas Cowboys (playing backup QB Cooper Rush), a concern for futures bettors who predicted a repeat performance from last year’s squad.
With a loss to the Ravens last Sunday night, and the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills still on the schedule, what predictions can bettors gleam from the Bengals’ first four games? Read on to see what the future holds for Cincinnati betting futures.
AFC North Futures Odds
A year after capturing all NFL fans’ attention by winning the North Division and making a Super Bowl run, Cincinnati is now chasing the Cleveland Browns and the Baltimore Ravens for the top of the standings in the division. Recapturing the AFC North crown for a second year will be no easy task.
Cleveland has opened against a trio of 1-2 teams, losing to the New York Jets in a miraculous fashion while beating both the Carolina Panthers and the Steelers. The Browns’ next three opponents (the Atlanta Falcons, Los Angeles Chargers, and New England Patriots) also have a 1-2 record. It’s possible – if not likely – the Browns could run the table before getting into the thick of the division schedule on Oct. 23 against Baltimore.
The Ravens, meanwhile, have a somewhat tougher road. After an Oct. 9 matchup against the Bills, Baltimore faces a revamped Giants team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and a rejuvenated Jacksonville Jaguars squad over the next six weeks. Led by dynamic QB Lamar Jackson, the Ravens look primed to claim their first AFC North title since 2019.
Best Bet: +400, DraftKings
Cincinnati will need to win at least three of the four games against the Browns and Ravens in order to reclaim their AFC North championship. Looking ahead, the Bengals are not favored in any of the four games against these two teams, meaning oddsmakers aren’t predicting Cincinnati to claim the AFC North after reviewing a quarter of the season.
Sportsbooks are giving the Bengals the second-best odds of winning the four-team division with the Ravens as the odds-on favorites. Nearly all of the sportsbooks have the Ravens at negative odds for Baltimore to win the division. DraftKings has Cincinnati at +400 odds for winning the division, the best bet for individuals to take who want to wager on the AFC North futures.
Joe Burrow MVP Futures Odds
If Cincinnati is going to become an AFC North player and a Super Bowl contender, Joe Burrow will need to play at an elite level for the remainder of the season. Through four games, Burrow has produced a pedestrian effort, completing 64% of his passes for 1,099 yards and eight TDs against four INTs.
In 2021, Burrow led the league with a 70.4% completion rate and a passer rating of 108.3 in the regular season, netting 4,611 yards in the process. Burrow had 34 TDs and 14 INTs as he won the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award in 2021.
Best Bet: +3500, Caesars Sportsbook
Joe Burrow currently sits at the eighth-best odds for the MVP award, ranking behind several other well-known quarterbacks for the top individual prize in the NFL. Bills QB Josh Allen is the favorite among the group, sitting at +300 odds on most sportsbooks.
For Burrow to win the award, the LSU product will need to increase production significantly, a feat that is possible with the remaining schedule. Only the New Orleans Saints’ defense ranks among the top third in passing defense among the remaining 13 opponents.
Bettors looking to make a wager on Burrow making a run should look at Caesar’s Sportsbook as the company is offering +3500 odds. A $100 bet on Joe Burrow’s future of winning the MVP Award would net a $3,500 payoff for wagers taking a chance on the third-year player’s ability to capture the award.
Super Bowl Futures Odds
Last season’s run to the Super Bowl was historic for the Bengals. Cincinnati knocked off the top two seeds en route to the championship contest, only the third time in the history of the league that feat was accomplished and just the second time in the AFC.
Unless Cincinnati can go on a significant winning streak, the Bengals would likely need another run to reach the Super Bowl again this season. Thus far, Buffalo and Kansas City both appear as significant roadblocks for Cincinnati to make its way to Super Bowl LVII in Arizona. Yet it wouldn’t be a shock for the Bengals …
Best Bet: +3000, Caesars Sportsbook
To make a second run behind a strong performance from Joe Burrow. While the rushing attack has been unable to grind out victories this year, Burrow has proven he can win big games for the Bengals.
Currently, Cincinnati enjoys the 13th-best odds for NFL teams to reach the Super Bowl. If the Bengals return to the big game this year, it would mark the eighth team to have done so in back-to-back years. Caesars is offering +3000 futures odds for Cincinnati, giving individuals the best odds for their wager.
