NFL Week 4 is already upon us and Thursday night’s gridiron game will feature the unbeaten Miami Dolphins against the sputtering Cincinnati Bengals.
The Bengals reached the Super Bowl last season, and expectations were high for a strong 2022 season. However, Cincinnati started with back-to-back losses to the Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys before winning against the New York Jets 27-12 last weekend.
The Miami Dolphins are a perfect three wins from three games. Miami have outscored opponents 83-64 this season, and average 27.7 points per game. First-year head coach Mike McDaniel has the Fins playing with wins against division rivals, the New England Patriots and Buffalo Bills. Miami allow an average of 21.3 points per game this season.
Miami are coming off an NFL Week 3 win against the Bills by a score of 21-19. The win was significant due to the form of the Bills. In addition, sportsbooks have the Buffalo Bills as the odds favourite to win the Super Bowl.
Can the Bengals win at home against the unbeaten Dolphins? It will be a white-out in Cincinnati with the Bengals wearing their stunning all-white uniform and helmets for the first time this season.
Miami Dolphins @ Cincinnati Bengals Betting Odds
Cincinnati are 1-2 this season after three weeks of NFL action. Despite the team’s poor record, sportsbooks have the Bengals as the money line favourite to win. Playing at home may have swayed bookmakers to back the Bengals to win ahead of kick-off.
The Bengals are at betting odds of 10/21 to win the game on Thursday night. The Dolphins have money line odds of 7/4 to win on the road and remain unbeaten in four straight NFL games. The Dolphins won their last two games against the Bengals. The teams have not played since the 2020 season.
Sportsbooks set the over/under for the match at 47.0 points. The over is at odds of 10/11 and the under is also at odds of 10/11. Four of the last five games between the Dolphins and Bengals finished with under 47.0 points.
The Bengals may be 1-2 after three games in 2022, but they have outscored opponents 64-55. The Bengals average 21.3 points per game and allow 18.3 to opponents. Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow struggled in the opening two games of the season. He finally found his rhythm against the Jets in Week 3.
Miami Dolphins @ Cincinnati Bengals Team News
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is battling injury and trying to get fit for Thursday night’s game. Tagovailoa suffered an apparent head injury against the Bills in Week 3. He returned to the game in the second half versus the Bills, despite looking worse for wear. The NFL will investigate the Dolphins’ handling of Tagovailoa and the decision to play him after the injury.
Tagovailoa is questionable to play against the Bengals. The Bengals will certainly have the advantage at home, if the quarterback doesn’t play. Tagovailoa has eight touchdown passes and two interceptions this season. He has thrown for 925 yards this season for an average of 308.3 yards per game. The Dolphins have stated the plan is for Tagovailoa to play.
Key Cincinnati players Tee Higgins (toe), Joe Mixon (ankle), and Germaine Pratt (knee) are practising this week, intending to play on Thursday. Three weeks into the NFL season, the injuries are racking-up across the NFL. Mixon is vital for Cincinnati to keep the Dolphins off guard.
Mixon hasn’t had a great start to the season, however. He is yet to run for 100 yards in a single game and has not scored a touchdown.
Miami Dolphins @ Cincinnati Bengals H2H
Miami lead the series of games against Cincinnati with 18 wins and seven losses. The Dolphins won three of the last five games against Cincinnati between 2013 and 2020. The last two games between these teams finished as wins for Miami.
The Dolphins’ chances of winning in Cincinnati will hinge on Tagovailoa’s fitness. The Dolphins allow 2.0 sacks per game, and the offensive line must protect the quarterback to keep him from suffering another head injury.
Cincy’s defence has 15 sacks this season. The defence could get after Tagovailoa and be the key to a win.
Miami Dolphins @ Cincinnati Bengals Predictions
Cincinnati Bengals to win both halves @ 47/20 - BET NOW
Sportsbooks are offering excellent odds on the Bengals winning both halves. Miami are coming off a great 21-19 win versus the Buffalo Bills. They tied the first half before winning the second half. The Bengals won 27-12 versus the Jets, as they won both halves scoring 20 points in the first half and seven in the second. Our betting tips prediction is for Cincy to edge Miami in both halves at great odds of 47/20.
Ja’Marr Chase over 5.5 player receptions @ 20/29 - BET NOW
Ja’Marr Chase is Joe Burrow’s favourite pass target. The wide receiver played at LSU along with Burrow, and the two have had a lot of success playing together. Chase has made 5.0 or more receptions in each game this season. He tallied 10 in NFL Week 1 and five receptions in NFL Week 2. Last week, Chase had six receptions. He averages 7.0 receptions a game this season, and our betting tips prediction is for Chase to make over 5.5 player receptions. Thursday night is a massive game for the Bengals, and their top players should step up.
Money line: Cincinnati Bengals @ 10/21 - BET NOW
Cincinnati will have a rabid home crowd supporting them on Thursday night. The home support should help the Bengals win. Cincy are winless in two straight games against Miami, but Tagovailoa's recent head injury could throw the game in favour of the Bengals. Although Cincy are on a two-game losing streak against Miami, the games were played in south Florida. Cincinnati are actually on a two-game winning streak at home versus Miami.
