The penultimate game of the Divisional Round in the NFL playoffs will take place on Sunday, January 22, and here you can get the best Bengals vs. Bills betting pick and odds.
Cincinnati is searching for the tenth win in a row, while Buffalo is looking for the ninth consecutive victory when they meet at Highmark Stadium. The Bills are 5-point favorites on DraftKings NY, while the total is set at 48 points. These conference rivals will face for the first time since 2019. The H2H duel was canceled a couple of weeks ago after Buffalo’s safety Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field in the opening minutes.
Bengals dodged a bullet against the Ravens in the Wild Card game
The Cincinnati Bengals (13-4-0, 12-4-1 ATS) perhaps weren’t a better team in the Wild Card game against divisional foes Baltimore Ravens at home, but still came away with a victory. And that wasn’t thanks to offense, but to excellent goal-line defense and fantastic Sam Hubbard. Cincy’s defensive end returned a 98-yard fumble for a touchdown in the fourth quarter after a great team defense on a goal line. Hubbard set the final score 24-17, but the offense wasn’t impressive at all. Baltimore was better in total yards (364-234) and first downs (23-18), but instead of taking a lead and maybe winning the game, the Ravens lost.
Joe Burrow completed 23 of 32 passes for 209 yards and a touchdown. Cincinnati’s run offense didn’t work but Burrow did score a rushing TD. Ja’Marr Chase was on the receiving end of Burrow’s lone TD pass and led the game with 84 yards on nine receptions. Hayden Hurst and Tee Higgins combined for 82 yards on eight catches. Defensively, Logan Wilson had a game-high ten tackles. Hubbard’s fumble return for a touchdown was the longest in NFL playoff history.
T Jonah Williams (knee) and G Alex Cappa (ankle) are questionable to play on Sunday against Buffalo.
Bills edged the Dolphins at home
The Buffalo Bills (14-3-0, 8-8-1 ATS) had a lot of problems against the Miami Dolphins at home, even though the visitors played without starting QB Tua Tagovailoa. The Bills got to a 17-0 lead early in the second quarter and many thought it was going to be a blowout victory, but the Dolphins had other plans. Not only they managed to come back, but the Dolphins took a 24-20 lead. However, Buffalo responded in time and scored two quick touchdowns, so Miami only could soften a defeat. The Bills secured a 34-31 win, and it was a deserved win in the end as they had 423 yards opposite Miami’s 231.
Josh Allen completed 23 of 39 passes for three touchdowns and two interceptions. Stefon Diggs posted a game-high 114 yards on seven receptions. Gabe Davis was just a yard shorter on six catches, but he did record a receiving TD, as well as Cole Beasley and Dawson Knox. Devin Singletary led all the runners with 48 yards on ten carries, while James Cook chipped in 39 yards and a score on 12 attempts. On defense, Matt Milano was rock-solid with a game-high ten tackles and a pair of sacks.
LB Von Miller, S Micah Hyde (neck), T Tommy Doyle (ACL), S Damar Hamlin (heart), and WR Jamison Crowder (ankle) are out indefinitely. DT Jordan Phillips (shoulder) and WR Isaiah McKenzie (hamstring) are questionable to feature on Sunday against the Bengals.
Trends:
Cincinnati:
5-11 ATS in the last 16 games against Buffalo
Buffalo:
4-0-1 ATS in the last five games after allowing more than 30 points in their previous game
10-4-2 ATS in their last 16 games following an ATS loss
Cincinnati Bengals vs. Buffalo Bills Pick
Buffalo has a home-field advantage and that’s one of the biggest reasons I am backing the Bills. Cincy’s offense was disappointing against Baltimore, and there is no way the visitors will have a chance against Buffalo if they don’t improve offensively on Sunday. They will face the second-best defense in the NFL that allows 17.9 points per game, so that won’t be easy. The Bills, on the other end, will have to display a better defensive performance, but they do have the second-best offense in the league that averages 28.4 ppg. Buffalo can outscore any team and that’s exactly what’s going to happen here.
Pick: Take the Bills at -3.5 (-130)
The Total
The Bills perhaps have a rock-solid D, but if they allowed 31 points to the Tagovailoa-less Miami, I can only imagine how tough is going to be to stop Burrow, Chase, and co. Although I expect Buffalo to play better on defense, I am still backing the Bengals to score 20+ with ease. They managed to do it in nine consecutive games, which also occurred in each of Buffalo’s last nine games. Over is 7-3 in the last ten H2H meetings; Over is 4-0 in the Bills’ previous four games overall, while Over is 5-1 in Buffalo’s last six home games.
Pick: Go Over 45.5 points (-133)
