Andrew Luck is back, everybody. But whether the Indianapolis Colts will be a success in Frank Reich’s first season as head coach of the team is something that remains to be seen. As for the Cincinnati Bengals, there are not many new faces with Marvin Lewis still the one who’s going to roam the sidelines and Andy Dalton passing the pigskin from the pocket. Who between the Bengals and the Colts will open their season on a positive note? Read on for a preview of this game below.
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Betting Preview for the Cincinnati Bengals vs Indianapolis Colts NFL Season Week 1 Game on September 9, 2018
Where: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis
When: Sunday, September 9, 2018, 1:00 PM ET
Line: Cincinnati Bengals (+3.0) vs Indianapolis Colts (-3.0) – view all 2018 NFL lines
TV Broadcast: CBS
Betting on the Cincinnati Bengals (+3)
The Bengals are still not giving up on Marvin Lewis, who, despite the team’s numerous shortcomings in the playoffs during his tenure as head coach, continues to mentor the team. Also, Andy Dalton is still the team’s master under center for the eighth-consecutive season.
The Bengals’ offense lacked zip last season, when they finished just 25th with 18.1 points per game and ranked last with 280.5 total yards per contest. Those numbers can be a bit surprising, considering that the team has solid talent on offense – none better than wide receiver A.J. Green.
Green led the team last season with 1,074 receiving yards and right touchdowns. The emergence of tight end Tyler Kroft last season when Tyler Eifert played in only two games because of injury should also give Dalton a fantastic tight-end duo to target, especially if Eifert can avoid any health problems.
The backfield is now under the leadership of Joe Mixon. Mixon was shaky in his rookie year, but definitely hast the talent. After the Bengals surprisingly released Brandon LaFell, it became clear that the team is also ready to hand the No. 2 receiving duties to second-year man John Ross.
The Bengals beat Indianapolis at home in Week 8 of last season, 24-23.
The Bengals are 3-1 ATS in their last four road games.
Betting on the Indianapolis Colts (-3)
The Colts will usher in the Frank Reich era with a game at home against the Bengals. But it’s not Reich the Colts’ fanbase is most excited about. Rather, it’s the return of quarterback Andrew Luck after over 500 days of absence due to a shoulder injury and surgery to repair it.
With Luck passing the rock for Indianapolis again, it’s expected that the Colts’ offense will bounce back from an anemic campaign in 2017 in which the team ranked 30th with just 16.4 points per game and second-worst with in the league with only 284.6 total yards per contest.
Of course, the Colts want to give Luck all the protection they can, which is also why the team drafted a total of six offensive linemen this year. Last season, the Colts allowed a dizzying total of 56 sacks – the most in the NFL.
Luck’s top targets are going to be the T.Y. Hilton and tight end Jack Doyle. The Colts signed former first-round pick Eric Ebron, who disappointed during his time in Detroit, but could excel in a new environment.
The Colts were just as bad on defense last year, as they allowed 30.2 points per game, bu there are still promising tools on their stop unit.
The Colts went 8-8 ATS in 2017.
Writer’s Prediction
Indianapolis wins, 28-24.
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