Houston Texans at Cincinnati Bengals Recommended Bet 11/12/23

Houston Texans (4-4 SU, 4-4 ATS) at Cincinnati Bengals (5-3, 4-3-1), 11/12/23
When: 1 pm ET Sunday, Nov. 12
Where: Paul Brown Stadium
TV: CBS

Betting Odds

Point spread: Hous +6.5/Cin -6.5
Money line: Hous +240/Cin -300
Total: 47

The Bengals look like they’re rounding into shape. At the same time, the Texans already own more wins than they managed last season, heading into this interesting AFC match-up slated for Sunday afternoon in Cincinnati.

We all know the Bengals are good enough to contend in the AFC, but this game gives Houston a chance to show it might already be ready to make a playoff run. Or not.

More importantly, though, is whether Cincinnati can cover a short touchdown or if the Texans can keep this one close.

NFL Betting Lines

The Week 10 NFL betting market opened Cincinnati at -6.5 over Houston, with an over/under of right around 47.

Texans-Bengals Betting Preview

Houston got back to .500 on the season with a wild 39-37 victory at home over Tampa Bay last Sunday. The Texans trailed 17-7 in the second quarter, later led 30-23, fell behind 37-33 with less than a minute to go but drove 75 yards to a game-winning score with six seconds left.

However, much to the pissed-off puzzlement of those who bet Houston at -3, the Texans sat on that final conversion attempt instead of kicking or running for the points that would have either pushed or beaten the spread.

Houston also might have covered if their kicker didn’t get hurt, causing the Texans to go for two four times in the second half. They converted once.

Houston racked up 496 of total offense last week, although only 53 of those came on the ground. Quarterback CJ Stroud set an NFL rookie record with 470 yards passing as he continues his excellent play.

The Texans are riding the NFL roller coaster as of late. Four games ago, they lost at the buzzer at Atlanta 21-19; then they beat New Orleans 20-13; then they lost at the buzzer at Carolina 15-13; then they beat the Buccaneers.

Add it all up, and Houston’s four wins is one more than its three of last season.

Meanwhile, Cincinnati is 4-0, both SU and ATS its last four times out after beating Buffalo Sunday night 24-18. The Bengals drove their first two possessions of the game to touchdowns, led 21-7 at the half, and let the Bills get back within one score with just under four minutes left but ran out the clock and covered at -1.5.

Cincinnati out-gained Buffalo 397-317, won the turnover battle 2-0, and dominated time of possession by a 37:23 split.

The Bengals opened this season 1-3 and looked bad several times. But they’ve since beaten Arizona, Seattle, San Francisco, and the Bills.

At 5-3 overall, Cincinnati occupies the No. 7 spot in the AFC playoff standings.

These teams last met three seasons ago, a 37-31 Bengals victory down in Houston. Brandon Allen quarterbacked Cincinnati that day against Deshaun Watson for the Texans.

Totals Report

The Under 5-3 in Texans games this season, which are averaging 44 total points.

The Under is also 5-3 in Bengals games this season, which are averaging 40 points.

Through Week 9, the Under is a lopsided 83-53 in the NFL this season.

Free NFL Betting Pick

Houston is coming off a huge effort last week; we’re thinking the Texans might be ripe for a letdown this week. Also, their kicker is hurt. Meanwhile, we consider Cincinnati one of maybe four or five teams in the League at the moment, good enough to avoid the week-to-week ups-and-downs most teams experience. Also, while Houston’s been beating Tampa Bay and New Orleans, the Bengals are beating Buffalo, San Francisco, and Seattle. We like Cincinnati for Sunday, minus the points.

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