The New England Patriots are 9.5-point favorites over the Cincinnati Bengals, per OddsShark.com, and that bodes well for the Patriots.
Dating back to 2000, the first year for head coach Bill Belichick, the Patriots hold a 41-4 record at home when favored by 9.5-points or greater. Three of those four losses have come to divisional opponents, while the fourth was the 2012 collapse against the Cardinals.
The Marv Lewis-led Bengals are 0-9 when 9.5-point or greater underdogs. This is actually the first time in more than five years that the Bengals are such large underdogs, dating back to week 17 of the 2010 season. The Bengals covered against the Ravens that day, but still lost 13-7. The Bengals have actually averaged a mere 6 points per game over their past five games as 9.5-point or greater underdogs.
The Patriots are 4-1 against the spread this season. The Bengals are 1-3-1 against the spread this season. 55% of the money has been placed on the Patriots, per OddsShark.
The over/under is set at 48, which implies a 28.75-19.25 Patriots victory. 77% of the money has been placed on the over as people expect a high scoring game.
Can you predict the score?