Bengals vs. Chiefs: Spread Info, Line and Predictions

The Cincinnati Bengals may have saved their season with a 31-13 beatdown of the New York Giants last week.  That momentum, coupled with the injury to Ben Roethlisberger, gives the Bengals renewed playoff hope.  All that stands between them and being a .500 team after ten games?  

The 1-8 Kansas City Chiefs.  

Hello .500.

Where: Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City

When: Sunday, Nov. 18 at 1 p.m. ET

Watch: CBS (check local listings)

Live Stream: NFL Sunday Ticket

Spread: Bengals -3.5 (MGM-Mirage)

A spread this small for a game this lopsided is unnerving.  Vegas doesn't build those palatial casinos by being wrong.  Stay away.

Over/Under: 43.5 (MGM-Mirage)

I would lean toward the under.  That said, as of this writing, there is a 20% chance of rain during this game.  Watch the weather.  If this game is played in inclement weather, take the under for sure.   

Key Injuries (via CBS Sports)

Bengals:

	LB	Vontaze Burfict	Elbow
	S	Nate Clements	Knee
	C	Jeff Faine	Hamstring
	WR	Andrew Hawkins	Knee
	CB	Adam Jones	Calf
	WR	Marvin Jones	Knee
	S	Taylor Mays	Knee
	S	Reggie Nelson	Hamstring
	DT	Devon Still	Back

Chiefs: 

	WR	Jon Baldwin	Head
	WR	Dwayne Bowe	Thigh
	TE	Steve Maneri	Ankle
	TE	Jake O'Connell	Ankle
	NT	Dontari Poe	Knee
	QB	Brady Quinn	Head

Fantasy Big Plays

Bengals: 

A.J. Green, Andy Dalton, Jermaine Gresham, BenJarvus Green-Ellis, and especially the Bengals' DST.  All of these except Green are normally borderline starters, but the Chiefs are a long way from borderline.   And you can expect at least one turnover-into-touchdown from the Chiefs in this game.  

Chiefs: 

You always start Jamaal Charles, and you can use Dwayne Bowe as a WR3 or flex if he plays and if you are intensely desperate.   You should never start any other Chiefs in your fantasy league.   You might not start any other Chiefs in an AFC West-only fantasy league.   

Keys to Bengals Win:

A.J. Green has not been stopped yet, with a TD catch in eight consecutive games.   The Bengals' D-line appeared, last week, to be returning to the form that helped make the team last year's seventh-ranked defense, and the defense overall hasn't allowed a 300-yard passer since week 2.  Also key to the Bengals' prospects for victory: They are playing the Chiefs; a team that has famously not led a game in regulation this season.   

Keys to Chiefs Win:

Um.  If Jamaal Charles runs for 275 yards, and all the Bengals get food poisoning, and it rains really, really hard...

Seriously, about all the Chiefs have going for them right now is that no one believes they can win, including the Bengals.    Unfortunately, I don't think the Chiefs believe they can win, either.  

Prediction:

Bengals 27, Chiefs 13, in a game that will not be as close as this score would indicate.