Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Jake Browning is far from the only college football star to struggle with his transition to the pro game. In his first NFL start, he only led the Bengals to 10 points and threw a backbreaking interception. The whir of NFL game speed is a difficult learning curve for just about every player to make the jump to the pros. Browning starred at the University of Washington, guiding them to the top of the Pac-12, but having to start in place of Joe Burrow is a tough ask. Next up we have the Bengals vs Jaguars, with a NFL betting line that has increased from Jacksonville -7.5 since it opened. Read on to get our NFL score prediction.
NFL Cincinnati Bengals at Jacksonville Jaguars Monday Night Football Game Odds and Analysis
When: Monday, December 4, 2023, 8:15 pm ET
Where: EverBank Stadium, Jacksonville, FL
TV: ESPN
Radio: Westwood One
Live Stream: Hulu
NFL Odds: Jacksonville -10 / O/U 40 // Cincinnati +425 / Jacksonville -550
Why should you bet on the Cincinnati Bengals?
The Bengals started the season 1-3 before reeling off four straight wins. Losing Joe Burrow to injury has led to a three-game skid, and now the Bengals are 5-6. This included a frustrating 16-10 home loss to Pittsburgh last week, a game that the Bengals led 7-3 at one point. The Steelers almost doubled up the Bengals in total yardage and had 22 first downs to just 10 for the Bengals. The Steelers also held the ball for almost 15 minutes longer than the Bengals did. Between the early struggles that Burrow had recovering from a calf injury and a stagnant rushing game, the Bengals are just 23rd in scoring offense, averaging 19.3 points per game. Their rushing offense is dead last, with just 75.8 yards per game.
Ja’Marr Chase (75 catches, 914 yards, 6 TD), Tyler Boyd (50 catches, 462 yards, 2 TD) and Tee Higgins (27 catches, 328 yards, 2 TD) make an excellent trio of targets for Browning, who has gone 27 of 41 for 295 yards with two touchdown passes and an interception since replacing Burrow. If Browning can get up to game speed, he should be able to find receivers down the field, but the O-line needs to give him time – and to open more holes for Joe Mixon. The defense is doing well, permitting just 22 points per game, so the offense needs to pick things up if the Bengals are going to creep back into the AFC playoff picture.
Bet on the Bengals to Win Today
| Bengals vs Jaguars MNF Week 14 Odds | SPREAD | MONEYLINE | TOTAL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville Jaguars | -10 | -550 | U 40 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | +10 | +425 | O 40 |
Why should you put your money on the Jacksonville Jaguars?
Jacksonville edged Houston on the road in their last game, giving them an 8-3 record on the season. Their two-game lead on the Texans dropped to 1 ½ on Sunday when the Texans beat Denver, though, and the Jaguars had a hard time putting Houston away. They led 21-14 going into the fourth quarter, but the Texans came back and had a chance to send the game to overtime with a late field goal, missing a 58-yard attempt at the end of regulation to fall, 24-21. The Jaguars held the ball for almost eight more minutes than the Texans did, but they struggled to contain C.J. Stroud with their pass defense.
Trevor Lawrence seems to be heating up, but he still has a 12:7 TD:INT ratio (with three more touchdowns on the ground). Tailback Travis Etienne Jr has had a solid season with 726 yards and seven touchdowns. Interestingly, the team’s leader in receptions is tight end Evan Engram with 64 catches for 524 yards. Christian Kirk and Calvin Ridley are both dangerous deep threats, but they have only combined for 1,324 receiving yards on the season.
Bet on the Jaguars to Win Today
Bengals vs Jaguars MNF Final Score and Prediction
It will be interesting to see what Jake Browning has learned from his early experience in the NFL – and how quickly he can turn those lessons into improvement. The Bengals have a playoff-ready defense and solid skill players around Browning. I’m not sure Jacksonville can beat Cincinnati by double figures, given the holes in their secondary. I predict a final score of Jacksonville 24, Cincinnati 16.
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