Bengals vs Titans Picks & Odds: Cincy Visits Nashville as Slim Favorite

The Tennessee Titans (7-3 SU, 8-2 ATS) aim to extend their lead atop the AFC South standings with a third straight win when they host the surging Cincinnati Bengals (6-4, 7-3) on Sunday in NFL Week 12 action.

The Titans return home after rolling to a 27-17 win in Green Bay last week for their seventh victory in eight games. Cincinnati’s offense continued to fire on all cylinders in last week’s 37-30 win in Pittsburgh but the Bengals have yet to post consecutive road wins this season while going 3-3 away from home.

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Bengals vs Titans Sportsbook Odds

The Bengals have fallen to 1.5-point favorites since Sportsbook at -2, while the total has held steady since Sportsbook at 42.5. Sunday’s matchup marks the first regular-season clash between these AFC rivals since 2020 and the Bengals’ first trip to Nashville during the regular season since 2017.

However, these teams did meet in last season’s NFL playoffs, with the Bengals eking out a narrow 19-16 win as 4-point road underdogs. With that victory, the Bengals improved to 6-2 in their past eight dates with the Titans and to 4-2 in their last six meetings at Tennessee.

Low scoring has been commonplace when these teams meet, with the total reaching 45 just once in seven clashes and the UNDER going 4-2-1 over that stretch. 

Get the best Bengals vs Titans odds and lines available from our recommended sportsbooks for your favorite picks of the night.

Supporting Cast Stepping Up in Wake of Ja’Marr Chase Injury

It has been feast or famine for the Bengals offense in recent weeks. With last week’s victory over the Steelers, the team has now averaged 39.5 points while winning two straight and has cracked 30 points in each of its past three wins. However, the Bengals were limited to just 15 points per game in their two most recent losses and have averaged just 22 points per game when facing opponents who currently sport winning records.

Joe Burrow showed no signs of a letdown last weekend. The Cincy quarterback threw for 255 yards and four touchdowns in the win and has now found the end zone on 13 occasions over the past five games. That is good news ahead of Sunday’s date with a Tennessee pass defense that ranks 30th in yards allowed. 

However, Burrow will once again have to make do without favorite target Ja’Marr Chase, who remains sidelined with a hip injury. That has opened the door for the Cincinnati supporting cast to shine, including Tee Higgins, who compiled a season-high 148 receiving yards in last week’s win, and rusher Samaje Perine, who showed his versatility by making three scoring catches in Pittsburgh.

Stingy Titans Defense Impacted by Injuries

The Titans turned in another smothering defensive performance in last week’s win at Lambeau Field, limiting the Packers to just 271 total yards, including just 56 rushing yards. Tennessee was particularly effective after shutting down the Packers in the final frame, holding Aaron Rodgers and company to just 45 yards over four possessions. 

Overall, the Titans have now blanked opponents in the fourth quarter in each of their past two games and have given up just two touchdowns in the fourth over their past five contests.

Tennessee has also benefited from Ryan Tannehill’s steady return to health after being hobbled by an ankle injury. Rusher Derrick Henry played a key role on offense while Tannehill was injured and has run for five scores over his past four games. However, injuries remain a big concern, particularly on defense. Among the defenders whose statuses remain uncertain are linebacker Bud Dupree, safety Amani Hooker and cornerback Kristian Fulton.

Bengals: Keys to Win

Joe Burrow and the Bengals will be aiming to take advantage of the Titans’ injury woes, particularly downfield against a Tennessee secondary that has had its depth severely tested by injuries. Accordingly, Burrow will be relying on the supporting cast among his receivers, who have effectively picked up the slack during Ja’Marr Chase’s injury.

Titans: Keys to Win

With the defensive depth strained by injury, the Titans cannot afford to retreat into a defensive shell against the high-powered Cincinnati attack. That means finding ways to generate scoring early after scoring just 10 first-quarter points over their past five games, and getting the rock regularly to Derrick Henry, who is due for a big hometown performance after running for just one score over his first four home appearances of the season. 

NFL Computer Pick: Titans ML +115

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