2009 Cincinnati Bengals Team Preview/Predictions
With NFL football just a short time away, Cappers Picks Football handicappers have been hard at work putting out the team by team NFL previews for those of us who can’t wait. Bet on the Super Bowl winner, plus Conference and Divisional winners. What are you waiting for use our insider knowledge today to gamble on all the NFL Football Futures in our top online sportsbooks today.
2008 Record: 4-11-1
ATS: 7-9
The Cincinnati Bengals were again a joke in 2008 but there is plenty of good reason for that to change this year. For starters, their starting quarterback, Carson Palmer, and top wide receiver, Chad Johnson, are fully healthy.
Part of the Bengals struggle for consistency has been that Palmer hasn’t been healthy – he’s had major injuries in two of the last four seasons. Now that he’s healthy, he’ll give the Bengals a good chance to win every week.
While he was out last season, the Bengals did find a running game with ex-Chicago Bear Cedric Benson leading the way.
He looks like a perfect fit for the AFC North as he’s a tough runner who can handle 20-25 carries a game. With Benson running and Palmer healthy, that alone makes the Bengals offense competent.
Throw in a very deep wide receiving corps, led by Chad Ochocinco, who should again be among the elite receivers in the NFL now that he’s past his torn labrum, and the Bengals should have an above average offense. There’s plenty of good receivers on this team, including Chris Henry, who allegedly has his head straight (we’ll believe it when we see it), free agent pickup Laveranues Coles and Andre Caldwell could be an intriguing sleeper.
The key on offense will be the line, which is being rebuilt. If rookie Andre Smith and left tackle Andre Whitworth can secure the tackle spots, this could be a very solid offense.
On defense, the Bengals are loaded with young talent and it’s just a matter of them jelling.
With Keith Rivers returning from injury after only playing seven games as a rookie and the addition of Rey Maulauga, the linebacking corps essentially gets two-first day draft picks to boost production.
Meanwhile, up front, the Bengals will hope what they have is good enough. Ends Robert Geathers and Antwan Odom weren’t healthy last year and the Bengals will need them badly as sacking the quarterback is this defense’s weakness.
Even so, there is plenty of good young talent on this defense.
While the Bengals won’t compete for a Super Bowl in 2009, it wouldn’t be a shock if they were .500. All the constituents are in place and as long as they focus on football, this could be an eight to 10-win team.
Super Bowl Odds: +6050
Conference Odds: +2050
AFC North Odds: +180
2009 Bengals Predictions
Place they’ll finish in AFC North: 3rd
Place they’ll finish in AFC Conference: 11th
Over/Under Season Wins Prediction: Over 6.5
JOIN BET PHOENIX SPORTSBOOK TODAY – GRAB A 35% FREE PLAY BONUS WHEN YOU CLICK HERE NOW AND TELL THEM CAPPERSPICKS.COM SENT YOU!!!
(Min. Deposit $1,ooo.) (Max $600 Free Play)
Dave Golokhov has written for BETUS Sportsbook, Sportsfanmagazine.com, FOX, Askmen.com, Sports-central.org, and the FOXSports.com Funhouse.















