Colts Bengals Line

Written by Steve Janus

The Cincinnati Bengals will look to match their season win total from a year ago when they host the winless Indianapolis Colts in week 6. The Bengals trailed the Jaguars 16-20 with just over 8 minutes to play in the fourth quarter, but rallied to a 30-20 win to improve to 3-2. The Colts looked like they were going to finally break through with a win, after taking a 24-7 lead over Kansas City last week. The Chiefs would end up scoring 21 unanswered to win 28-21. Indianapolis has won seven straight over the Bengals, but all seven of those wins came with Peyton Manning starting at quarterback.

Taking a look at the week 6 NFL lines, oddsmakers currently have the Bengals favored by 7-points over the Colts with the total set at 41 points.

Indianapolis Colts:

The Colts have now lost back-to-back games where they had double-digit leads, and are at the point where their season is pretty much over if they don’t find a way to win this week. The thing is the Colts are just three games out of first place, so I don’t expect the players to give up just yet.

Curtis Painter continues to show flashes of being able to lead this team to wins, but he has struggled to put together a full 48 minutes. Last week Painter went 12 of 17 for 237 yards and two touchdowns in the first half, but completed just 3 of 15 for 40 yards in the second half. There is no question that he has looked more comfortable in the offense, but until he plays his best football at the end of the game the Colts will likely continue to lose these close games.

It hasn’t helped matters that the Colts have been unable to run the ball. Indianapolis managed just 78 yards on 27 attempts against Kansas City, and are 30th in the NFL at just 82.0 yards per game. It will be up to rookie Delone Carter to get the ground game going, as starter Joseph Addai is expected to sit out with a hamstring injury.

The Colts offense could be in big for a long day against a Cincinnati defense that is holding opponents to a league-low 279.6 yards per game. The Bengals are 3rd against the pass (191.0 ypg) and 7th against the run (88.6 ypg).

Cincinnati Bengals:

The Bengals come-from-behind win over the Jaguars last week was their second fourth quarter rally in the last two weeks. Not a lot of people gave the Bengals a shot to do much of anything this season, but this team has just two losses by a combined seven points.

Rooking quarterback Andy Dalton is maturing quicker than expected. Dalton has put this team on his shoulders and delivered with the game on the line. That is something you really look for in a young quarterback, as so many times they will find a way to lose the game. Dalton still has a long way to go as a starter. He is averaging just 195.6 ypg and has only six touchdowns to five interceptions through five games.

Rookie wide out A.J. Green has made life a lot easier on Dalton, and these two are starting to form quite the combo early in their careers. Green has caught nine passes for 208 yards and a touchdown in the last two games, and is leading the team with 24 receptions for 402 yards and three touchdowns. Tight end Jermaine Gresham is another player who has been a big part of the passing game, hauling in 21 passes for 208 yards and three scores.

The running game has been hit or miss for the Bengals this season. Cedric Benson has rushed for over a 100 yards in two games, but has failed to go over 65 in three games. Benson and the ground game should be in for a big day this week, as the Colts come in 31st against the run, allowing 145.2 yards per game.

Betting Trends:

Indianapolis is 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games as an underdog.

Cincinnati is 3-13 ATS in their last 16 games as a favorite of 3.5-10.0.

Be sure to stop back and check out who Steve Janus has picked to win in week 6 of the NFL.

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