Week 4 Thursday Night Football Betting Preview

Week 4 Thursday Night Football Betting Preview

Week 4 Thursday Night Football Betting PreviewAmong other reasons, the Cincinnati Bengals are big favorites against the Miami Dolphins due to their track record of avoiding extending losing streaks.

Odds courtesy of OddsShark.com

The Bengals are listed as 7.5-point favorites against the Miami Dolphins, with a total of 45 points, for the two 1-2 teams’ Thursday Night Football betting matchup. Cincinnati is a -360 moneyline favorite, while Miami is a +280 underdog on those odds.

Cincinnati, which is coming off losses against the Pittsburgh Steelers, is 5-0 both straight-up and against the spread in its last five games after consecutive losses. The biggest concern about the Bengals is whether their offensive line, which has already allowed 12 sacks, will be able to protect QB Andy Dalton.

The Dolphins have a credible pass rush, with DT Ndamukong Suh and DE Cameron Wake. When Dalton has time to throw, it is usually just a matter of when WR A.J. Green will burn the defense.

Miami is less imposing against the run, where it is second-last in the NFL with 147.3 yards per game allowed. Cincinnati might be able to get RB Jeremy Hill and RB Giovani Bernard into a groove. Defensively, the Bengals have Pro Bowl OLB Vontaze Burfict back from his suspension for violating NFL player-safety rules, although to what extent he’ll be involved is questionable.

Miami is 0-7 ATS in its last seven games against teams with losing records, and 2-9 SU in its last 11 outings as a road underdog. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill will be working with a makeshift offensive line, with third-string C Kraig Urbik potentially starting in place of Mike Pouncey (hip) and Anthony Steen (ankle).

Tannehill will be up against a Bengals secondary that is underachieving. After being shredded by the Denver Broncos’ Trevor Siemian on Sunday, CB Adam Jones and Cincinnati’s pass defence is third-last in the NFL with nine touchdown passes allowed in three games.

That stat owes somewhat to Cincinnati having already faced Antonio Brown, Brandon Marshall and Emmanuel Sanders. Miami’s receiving corps isn’t quite as dangerous, and both WR Jarvis Landry (shoulder) and WR DeVante Parker (hamstring) were dinged-up last Sunday. The Dolphins have yet to find a primary RB, with Kenyan Drake and Jay Ajayi working in since an injury to Arian Foster (groin).

The total has gone over in five of the Bengals’ last seven games at home after consecutive losses at home. The total has gone under in the Dolphins’ last eight Thursday games.