Get ready to make some money. Hopefully.
The Cincinnati Bengals will play in a football game that matters on Sunday afternoon, and all will be right with the world.
Football is back, Joe Burrow is healthy, Ja’Marr Chase will hopefully play on Sunday even if he hasn’t signed an extension, and our lofty dreams for the season haven’t been hit with a dose of reality yet.
In short, it’s good that NFL football is back.
Zac Taylor and company are looking to get back to the Super Bowl, and there isn’t a lot of standing in their way. It’s time to sit back and watch the show, and wouldn’t it be nice to make a little money along the way?
Well, now that the NFL is back, of course, so is sports betting, which is now legal in Ohio and many other states. The Bengals are eight-point favorites, but that’s not the fun thing to bet on. The prop bets can be a lot of fun and can make you some real cash.
Here are a few prop bets you could make from FanDuel’s Sportsbook.
Bengals score a TD on their opening drive (+240)
The Bengals starting offense played just one drive in the preseason, and it was without Ja’Marr Chase. In that drive, Burrow drove down the field and scored a touchdown.
The Bengals will hopefully have Chase on Sunday. They’re going to want to start off fast with a pre-scripted opening drive for a touchdown, setting the tone for the season.
I don’t think every drive will end with a touchdown on Sunday, but I do think the Bengals start the season off strong.
Mike Gesicki anytime TD Score (+290)
When the Bengals get into the red zone, though, and the field in compressed, Burrow could look elsewhere, and by elsewhere I mean Gesicki, who will be looking for some revenge against his old team.
Gesicki is a downfield threat at the tight end position, which was a major disappointment in the 2023 season. If Chase is doubled in the red zone, Gesicki becomes the next option.
Rhamondre Stevenson over 48.5 rushing yards (-113)
My heart says no, but my brain says yes. The Bengals struggled to stop the run last year, and DJ Reader is gone. They did sign Sheldon Rankins and drafted Kris Jenkins and McKinnley Jackson, but both Jenkins and Jackson are going to miss at least Week 1.
If the Patriots are going to win this game, it’s going to be because they controlled the time of possession by running the ball. Stevenson is a big and powerful back who isn’t easy to bring down, and the Patriots are going to lean on him in order to keep Burrow on the sideline.
I expect more than 48.5 yards on the ground.
Ja’Marr Chase over 14.5 receiving yards (-106)
Want a slam dunk?
Here you go (if he plays).
