The Cincinnati Bengals face a tough road in pro football betting as they look to defend their AFC North title. Cincinnati has the fourth-toughest schedule in the NFL for 2010 and even though they could be improved, the Bengals might not win as many games this season. Making an NFL bet on the Bengals may not prove as popular as it was a year ago.
Pro football betting odds don’t favor Cincinnati repeating their success in 2010. The Bengals have not had two straight winning seasons in 28 years. With their 2010 schedule they may not end that streak. One highlight of the schedule for Cincinnati is a rematch with the New York Jets. The Bengals play New York on Thanksgiving in prime time in a game that can be seen on the NFL Network.
Cincinnati really has a tough start to the season as they open up at New England and then host Baltimore. The Bengals then have to go on the road to Carolina in Week 3. None of those games figures to be easy in pro football betting. They may get a break in Week 4 at Cleveland although the Browns should be improved. Week 5 should be their first relatively easy game as they host Tampa Bay. The Bengals get an early bye this season as it comes in Week 6.
Coming off the bye the Bengals face an extremely difficult schedule. Those making an NFL bet will notice that they go to Atlanta in Week 7, host Miami in Week 8, host Pittsburgh on Monday night in Week 9 and then go to Indianapolis in Week 10. They don’t get a break until hosting Buffalo in Week 11. The tough schedule continues in Week 12 as they play at New York on Thanksgiving in a short week. The Bengals then host the defending Super Bowl champion Saints in Week 13 before going to Pittsburgh in Week 14. The only relatively easy game for the Bengals is in Week 15 as they host Cleveland. Cincinnati then hosts San Diego in Week 16 and they finish up at Baltimore.
The NFL determines strength of schedule based on the records of last season. The NFL may say that the Bengals have the fourth-toughest schedule in the league but looking at it there are very few easy games for Cincinnati in 2010. The Bengals face a very difficult road as they look to defend their AFC North title.