The Indianapolis Colts (0-2) and Cincinnati Bengals (1-1) face off in NFL Preseason action on Saturday, Aug 23. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. ET from Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. The game will broadcast on ESPN Unlimited.
The Bengals are favored by -2.5 with the over/under set at 35.5. Cincinnati is a -150 moneyline favorite to win outright, while Indianapolis is +125 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Colts vs Bengals predictions and NFL preseason picks for Saturday afternoon.
Colts vs Bengals Odds
| Colts Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+2.5 -105 | 35.5 -105o / -115u | +125 |
| Bengals Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-2.5 -115 | 35.5 -105o / -115u | -150 |
- Colts vs Bengals Moneyline: Colts +125, Bengals -150
- Colts vs Bengals Spread: Colts +2.5 (-105), Bengals -2.5 (-115)
- Colts vs Bengals Total: 35.5 (-105o / -115u)
Colts vs Bengals NFL Preseason Preview
In NFL preseason, motivation, evaluation priorities and player rotations often overshadow public narratives and perceived team strength.
This system targets small unpopular underdogs against the spread while taking the moneyline, capitalizing on situations where teams are lightly favored or slight dogs but overlooked by the market. By focusing on games played strictly during the preseason, we capture the environment where coaches are testing depth and games often swing on late rosters rather than star power.
In this game, the Colts are reportedly not planning to most of their projected starters. And at quarterback, Riley Leonard will get the start as Daniel Jones and Anthony Richardson will be sidelined. As for the Bengals, Joe Burrow and the rest of Cincinnati's key starters will be sidelined.
Limiting the spread to between zero and 5 1/2 points with public backing below 41% ensures we target matchups where the market underestimates the underdog’s potential to win outright in low-spread environments.
Over time, these conditions create edges that lead to positive returns despite a lower win rate as the market consistently misprices teams in the chaos of preseason, making this approach a disciplined way to profit in a volatile segment of the NFL calendar.
Pick: Colts Moneyline (+125 to +120)
Spread
We have no pick on either side of the spread.
Moneyline
The Colts moneyline is our pick for this game.
Over/Under
We have no pick on the game total.
