The Jacksonville Jaguars (1-0) and Cincinnati Bengals (1-0) will face off in Week 2 of the NFL season. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. ET from Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. The game will broadcast live on CBS.
The Bengals are 3.5-point favorites over the Jaguars on the spread (Bengals -3.5), with the over/under set at 48.5 total points. Cincinnati is a -180 favorite to win outright, while Jacksonville is +152 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Jaguars vs. Bengals predictions and NFL picks for Sunday, September 14.
Jaguars vs Bengals Prediction
- Jaguars vs Bengals pick: Over 48.5 (-115)
My Bengals vs. Jaguars best bet is on the over, with the best price currently available at Fanatics. But as always, make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NFL odds page.
Jaguars vs Bengals Odds
| Jaguars Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+3.5 -115 | 48.5 -115o / -105u | +152 |
| Bengals Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-3.5 -105 | 48.5 -115o / -105u | -180 |
Jaguars vs Bengals NFL Week 2 Preview
My favorite total bet for NFL Week 2 is the over in Bengals-Jaguars.
I'm not buying into the Bengals' defense all of sudden just because they held Cleveland to 16 points last week.
Sure, it was a solid performance by Cincy's defense, but the Browns are expected to have one of the worst offenses in the league this year, so I wouldn't be quick to jump to any drastic conclusions.
The Bengals' defense is still going to need some time to come together as a unit, and even after last week's win, I still believe there are some very troubling signs for this unit.
It might not have resulted in a bunch of points on the scoreboard, but the Bengals' defense was gashed by a pair of rookie pass-catchers playing in their first NFL game last week, as running back Dylan Sampson caught eight passes for 64 yards and tight end Harold Fannin Jr. caught seven passes for 63 yards.
Now they face a Jaguars' offense that is much more experienced than Cleveland's, and with a dynamic offensive mind like Liam Coen at the helm in Jacksonville, I expect the Jags to be able to replicate some of the success that the Browns found last week, while also being able to improve upon some of those things.
On the flip side, Joe Burrow was constantly under duress in last week's matchup against Cleveland, forcing him to check down often and ultimately putting a cap on the Bengals' offense.
Unfortunately for Burrow, the Bengals' offensive line isn't getting any better anytime soon. However, he shouldn't have to deal with quite as much interior pressure against Jacksonville this week now that Myles Garrett and the Browns are in the rearview mirror. That should allow Cincy's offense to settle down and spread its wings in Week 2.
Jaguars vs Bengals Prediction, Betting Analysis
I think this is a get-right spot for the Bengals' offense. I expect Burrow and company to bounce back with a strong showing against the Jaguars in Week 2.
Meanwhile, the Jaguars scored 26 points in Coen's debut against the Panthers last week, and that was a weird game with a weather delay in the middle of it. I think there's actually room for Jacksonville to improve upon that number against a bad Bengals' defense this week.
The Jags have a lot of young, important pieces on their roster, and I expect them to continue to grow as a unit. They traded away Tank Bigsby this week, which should free up more playing time for rookie Bhayshul Tuten, who looked really explosive in his debut against Carolina. Travis Hunter is only scratching the surface after bringing in six catches for 33 yards in his debut.
In Week 2, I think we'll see the Bengals' offense and Jaguars' defense both drift back toward their baselines after scoring only 17 points and surrendering 10 points respectively. So, I'm taking Jacksonville-Cincinnati Over 48.5.
Pick: Over 48.5 (-115)
Spread
I'm not betting either side of the spread in this matchup.
Moneyline
I will also be staying away from the moneyline market.
Over/Under
My Bengals vs. Jaguars betting prediction is on the over at 48.5 total points.
