The Seattle Seahawks look to have their eighth straight winning season by starting against the downtrodden Cincinnati Bengals. The Seahawks are Week 1’s biggest favorite, and with a Bengals defense that hasn’t changed much after a terrible 2018, the low total seems extremely intriguing.
Cincinnati Bengals vs Seattle Seahawks (Matchup Report)
Date/Time: September 8, 4:05 p.m. ET
TV Coverage: CBS
Sportsbook Odds: Seattle -7.5 | O/U 43.5 (Line History)
Sportsbook Odds Analysis
The Sportsbook line was Seattle -7.5, with a total of 43.5. With Cincinnati’s AJ Green out for the start of the season, bettors flocked to Seattle and the spread jumped as high as -10 before settling at the current -9.5. The total moved slightly smaller, going to 43, before swinging back to 43.5, now sitting at 44.
Seattle News & Notes
It’s hard to count out the Seahawks, as they entered last season with a depleted defense and no real No. 1 running back. Seattle responded by posting the 11th-ranked defense, leading the NFL in rushing, going 10-6 and making the playoffs.
Fast-forward to 2019, and the Seahawks lost wide receiver Doug Baldwin but drafted a dynamic talent in DK Metcalf. They still have a dangerous rushing attack — as well as superstar quarterback Russell Wilson. They added defensive ends in free agent Ziggy Ansah and first-round draft pick L.J. Collier and still have one of the league’s premier linebackers, Bobby Wagner, who was a remarkable 138-for-139 on tackle attempts last season.
The Seahawks normally struggle in September, as they’re 1-5-1 ATS in their last seven Sportsbook-month games, but they’re 5-0 SU in their last five at home and 4-0-1 ATS in their last five against the AFC North. They’ve got a very comfortable matchup to start their season.
Cincinnati News & Notes
Murphy’s Law was in full effect last year for the Cincinnati Bengals. Quarterback Andy Dalton, wide receiver AJ Green and tight end Tyler Eifert all missed extended time as the Bengals finished last in the AFC North, missing the playoffs for the third straight season.
Unfortunately, 2019 doesn’t seem much better. Rookie head coach Zac Taylor may have Dalton and Eifert back, but Green is still likely to miss multiple weeks to start the season and the projected Week 1 offensive line looks very different from even a week ago. There was little change to a defense that allowed the third-most points and the most yards against, and to add salt to the wound, interstate rival Cleveland finally looks like a dangerous team.
Cincinnati is 0-5 SU in its last five road games, but the Bengals are 5-0 ATS in their last five on the West Coast and 4-1 ATS in their last five September games. There’s a good chance they lose, but maybe not by as much as you’d think.
Betting Pick
The total has gone OVER in six of Seattle’s last seven games against the Bengals and in eight of Seattle’s last nine games overall. The OVER has also hit in seven of the Bengals’ last nine Week 1 games and each of their last five September matchups. Add in that their defense is still likely to be among the league’s worst, and the Seahawks have Russell Wilson and a relentless run game. My pick here is the OVER.
- Seattle is 14-0 SU and 12-2 ATS in its last 14 September home games.
- The Seahawks are 18-3 SU in their last 21 when hosting an East Coast team.
- The Bengals are 5-0 ATS in their last five games on the West Coast.
