Washington Football vs. Cincinnati Bengals Odds: NFL Week 2 Preseason Picks & Predictions

by Nick Galaida (nickgalaida) Last Updated 2021-08-19 12:58:22

NFL betting analyst Nick Galaida previews the Week 2 preseason matchup between the Washington Football Team and Cincinnati Bengals. Follow along as he breaks down the odds and gives free picks for Friday night’s game. Also don’t miss out on this ridiculous NFL welcome promo, a $5,000 risk-free bet from Caesars! The offer is available for bettors in Virginia and seven other states.

Washington vs. Bengals Odds

On Friday evening, the Cincinnati Bengals and the Washington Football Team will each play their second game of the preseason. Oddsmakers have priced the Football Team as five point favorites for this contest, but let’s take a closer look at who is expected to play in this matchup, and where bettors can find value.

Cincinnati Bengals

In Week 1 of the preseason, the Bengals defeated the defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers by a final score of 19-14. Cincinnati ran 29 pass plays and 35 run plays, with Jacques Patrick and Chris Evans combining for 27 carries and 96 yards in the backfield.

Head Coach Zac Taylor has emphasized numerous times in press conferences that he will use the exhibition slate to evaluate his young players and to get them ready for when the games count for real. Still, the first team defense should see more playing time for the Bengals this week, after playing only one possession against Tampa Bay. Defensive end Joseph Ossai was impressive in his preseason debut with three tackles and a sack of Tom Brady in limited action. The rookie third-round pick should once again be a force in the opposing backfield on Friday.

In the 2020 draft, Cincinnati selected quarterback Joe Burrow with the top overall selection. Burrow was medically cleared to return to training camp on July 28, after he suffered a season-ending knee injury in his rookie year. He did not take any snaps during last week’s win against Tampa Bay, and has once again been ruled out for Friday’s action. In his place, bettors should expect Kyle Shurmur and Brandon Allen to once again split time under center. Shurmur and Allen combined to complete 19 passes in 29 attempts for 185 yards, zero touchdowns, and two interceptions against the Buccaneers, who sat nearly all of their key players after their first series on the field. Shurmur and Allen could find life even more difficult against the Football Team, who is expected to play the majority of their starters in Week 2.

Washington Football Team

Washington lost their preseason opener against the New England Patriots, but they had an opportunity to tie the game with a two-point conversion with 1:26 left. An incomplete pass and a subsequent 91 yard touchdown run for the Patriots sealed the deal, but the game was competitive down to the wire.

Newly-acquired quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick was effective in limited playing time, completing five passes in eight attempts for 58 yards. Expect Fitzpatrick to get more playing time on Friday compared to Week 1 as he continues to build rapport with his new team. Taylor Heinicke was solid in backup duties—taking another step towards cementing his status as Fitzpatrick’s top backup option. Sam Cosmi gained solid reps at right tackle and appeared to fit right in on an offensive line that has a chance to be one of the best in the NFL this fall.

NFL Preseason Betting Picks

Washington seems likely to play their starters close to the entire first half on Friday. This certainly gives them a first half advantage, but they are still likely to be vulnerable in the final two quarters considering how poorly their second and third team units played against the Patriots. After leading 7-6 at halftime in Week 1, Washington was outscored 16-6 in the second half in the losing effort. Conversely, the Bengals were able to score 12 second half points against the Buccaneers and seem poised to play well into the latter part of the game once again.

It is nearly impossible for oddsmakers to set sharp lines for NFL preseason action. Sportsbooks often set the line hoping to balance bets based on public perception—and with Cincinnati announcing that Burrow will not play, the line is understandably heavy in Washington’s direction. If this were a regular season game, that news would be a big deal. However, in the preseason, bettors should consider a small play on any underdog with odds of +150 or higher, given the highly unpredictable nature of the game. Cincinnati has better depth than the Football Team, which should give them a chance to win this contest if they can manage to play reasonably well against Washington’s starters in the first half.

PICK: Bengals Moneyline (+185)

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