Cincinnati Bengals vs. Tennessee Titans Predictions, Picks, Odds

5 minute read

The Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs will kick things off Saturday mid-afternoon with a heavyweight AFC showdown between the Cincinnati Bengals and Tennessee Titans. Coverage begins from Nissan Stadium at 4:30 p.m. ET on CBS.

SCORE PREDICTION

Titans 27, Bengals 20

BEST BETS

Titans -3.5 (-110) at BetMGM

CINCINNATI BENGALS VS. TENNESSEE TITANS PREDICTIONS

After finishing last in the AFC North with a record of 4-11-1 SU last year, the Bengals bounced back with a surprisingly excellent 2021 campaign, as Cincinnati defied its +2500 preseason divisional odds by winning the AFC North with a sturdy record of 10-7 SU – and solidified that claim to the throne with a commanding 28-16 victory over the Raiders on Wild Card Weekend.

The Bengals’ offense has been incredibly inconsistent since December though, considering Cincinnati closed out the regular season with a lackluster 3-3 SU skid, while averaging 30.1 PPG across a trio of victories over the Chiefs, Ravens, and Broncos – and scoring just 20.3 PPG across losses to the Chargers, Niners, and Browns.

On the other hand, Tennessee posted an excellent start to the season, as the Titans kicked things off with a sturdy 6-2 SU and ATS stretch, while averaging 28.4 PPG offensively across that span – before eventually losing Derrick Henry to a foot injury, sidelining the reigning offensive player of the year for the ensuing nine events.

Tennessee flipped the script and secured the one-seed through spectacular defensive play down the homestretch though, considering the Titans posted a solid 6-3 SU record across the back-half of the season – while surrendering just 17.6 PPG on 296 YPG defensively during that timeframe.

I’ll lay the points with Tennessee here, as Mike Vrabel’s squad was unexpectedly carried by defense throughout the year, considering the Titans rank just 15th in scoring and 17th in offensive yardage (24.6 PPG, 343 YPG), while ranking 6th in points allowed and 10th in defensive yardage (20.8 PPG, 329 YPG) – but ultimately, both sides should come together and form a cohesive attack with the re-addition of Henry this Saturday.

CINCINNATI BENGALS VS. TENNESSEE TITANS BETTING ODDS

More Odds | Futures Odds

The Titans enter the Divisional Round as 3.5-point favorites over the visiting Bengals, which marks the fifth time Cincinnati has been an underdog across the last seven games.

The total for Saturday’s affair is stationed near OU 47 at most shops – marking the highest over-under set for a Titans’ game since visiting the Rams in Week 9 (U 53).

CINCINNATI BENGALS VS. TENNESSEE TITANS BETTING RESOURCES

Matchup: AFC North vs. AFC South
Date: Saturday, January 22, 2022
Venue: Nissan Stadium
Location: Nashville, Tennessee
TV-Time: CBS - 4:30 p.m. ET

CINCINNATI BENGALS BETTING ANALYSIS

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

SU: 11-7
ATS: 11-7
O/U: 8-10
ATS - Away: 6-2

After last year’s disappointing 4-11-1 SU showing, Cincinnati stumbled out to another pedestrian start to this season, as the Bengals kicked things off with a mediocre 3-2 SU and 2-3 ATS stretch – while averaging just 22.8 PPG on 334 YPG offensively across that span.

Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati offense have posted excellent numbers since that opening stretch though, as the Bengals boast averages of 26.6 PPG on 355 YPG since Week 9 – but those stats could be slightly misleading, considering they generated 23 PTS or less in half of those matchups (5).

TENNESSEE TITANS BETTING ANALYSIS

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

SU: 12-5
ATS: 10-7
O/U: 8-9
ATS - Home: 6-3

After winning the AFC South with a record of 11-5 SU last year, Tennessee seemingly had its sights set on a much bigger goal to start this season, as the Titans opened with wins in eight of their first ten games – which included impressive upset victories over the Bills, Chiefs, Seahawks, Colts, and Rams.

Tennessee went just 4-3 SU down the homestretch, but holding on to secure the one-seed despite Henry’s absence is almost just as impressive as their 8-2 SU start though, considering the Titans played half the year without their offensive focal point and still earned a first-round bye.

**The Bengals are 5-0 ATS in their last five games. (AP)**

INSIDE THE STATS - CINCINNATI BENGALS

Record: 10-7
Division Standing: 1st - AFC North
Points Scored: 460
Points Allowed: 376
PS/G: 27.1 (7th)
PA/G: 22.1 (17th)

INSIDE THE STATS - TENNESSEE TITANS

Record: 12-5
Division Standing: 1st - AFC South
Points Scored: 419
Points Allowed: 354
PS/G: 24.6 (15th)
PA/G: 20.8 (6th)

KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH

CIN: Joe Burrow - QB (70.4% CMP, 288 YPG, 34 TD, 14 INT)
CIN: Ja'Marr Chase - WR (81 REC, 1,455 YDS, 13 TD)
TEN: Ryan Tannehill - QB (67.2% CMP, 219 YPG, 21 TD, 14 INT)
TEN: Derrick Henry - RB (8 GS, 219 CAR, 937 YDS, 10 TD)

CINCINNATI BENGALS VS. TENNESSEE TITANS BETTING CONCLUSION

After picking up their first playoff win since 1991 last week, the Bengals will travel to Nashville in the Divisional Round as 3.5-point road underdogs against the Titans at Nissan Stadium – marking the fifth time Cincy has been an underdog across the last seven games.

I’ll lay the points with Tennessee here, as Henry and the Titans’ offense absolutely dominated to start the season, racking up 28.4 PPG on 377 YPG across their opening 6-2 SU stretch – likely presenting a steep uphill battle for a Bengals squad that’s scored 23 PTS or less in four of their last seven games.

CINCINNATI BENGALS VS. TENNESSEE TITANS BETTING TRENDS

The Bengals are 6-1 ATS in their last seven matchups against Tennessee.
The Titans are 7-1 SU in their last eight home games.
The Bengals are 5-0 ATS in their last five games.
The total has gone UNDER in four of the last five Titans' games.

Where to place a bet this NFL Season?

Use our exclusive BetMGM Bonus Code VIBONUS1500 to unlock BetMGM’s welcome offer for new sportsbook users!
Compare the latest NFL Odds from the best sportsbooks before placing a bet on this week's games.
Check out the North Carolina Sportsbooks just before they launch legal online sports betting.

Nfl News

NFL APR 26, 2024

How Did The Combine Effect Each Player’s Draft Stock?

Michael Crosson

Michael Crosson began his time at VegasInsider as a freelance NBA writer back in 2019 while he continued to study Psychology and Biology at James Madison University. Following his graduation in 2021, Michael joined the team full-time, and he's been with VI ever since. Michael still writes NBA, NFL, and MLB for VI, as well as gambling industry news. He's also become a crucial part of our editorial production team. More from Michael Crosson