Buffalo Bills vs. Cincinnati Bengals: Last Minute Spread Info and Predictions

The upstart Buffalo Bills look to continue their hot start to the season when they travel to Cincinnati to take on the Bengals in Week 4.

Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick has emerged as a star thanks to his brilliant play in the first three weeks of the season. After defeating the Patriots last week, the Bills believe that they can compete with anyone in the NFL. The way they are playing right now, it would be hard to argue with them.

The Bengals have not been winning games, save for the season opener against Cleveland, but they are playing good enough to be competitive in the games they play. The defense has been playing well and is bailing out the offense, which is still trying to find some consistency with Andy Dalton at quarterback.

Where: Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio

When: Sunday, Oct. 2 at 1 p.m. ET

Watch: CBS; DirecTV Channel 704

Over/Under: 43.5

The Bills score a lot of points. They have not played a game yet this season in which they scored less than 34 points. The Bengals defense has played well, albeit against Cleveland, Denver and San Francisco.

I think that 43.5 points is going to wind up being too low for this game considering how well the Bills offense is playing.

Spread: Buffalo (-3)

The Bills have earned the right to be more than three-point favorites in this game. Technically, they are six-point favorites because home teams are automatically given a three-point advantage, but three points is far too low for this team in this game.

Bills' Key Injuries

Wide receiver Steve Johnson is listed as probable for the game with a groin injury.

Linebacker Chris White and cornerback Terrence McGee have both been ruled out for this game with hamstring injuries.

Bengals' Key Injuries

Wide receiver A.J. Green is listed as probable with a toe injury.

Fantasy Big Plays

Ryan Fitzpatrick, Buffalo Bills

Given the way that he has played in the first three weeks of the season, Fitzpatrick is officially a must-start quarterback every week. He is throwing for a lot of yards (841) and touchdowns (nine), so you would be foolish not to put him in your lineup.

A.J. Green, Cincinnati Bengals

Green did not have a good game against San Francisco last week and is dealing with a toe injury, but the Bills defense is giving up a lot of yards and a lot of points.

Dalton is going to target Green a lot more in this game than he did last week.

Bills' Keys To Victory

As well as the Bills offense has played, the defense has to get better because they are not stopping teams from scoring. Granted they have been playing Oakland and New England, two good offensive teams, so maybe those teams have made them look worse on defense than they really are.

The offense is firing on all cylinders and should be able to keep doing what it has been doing through the first three weeks of the season.

Bengals' Keys To Victory

Andy Dalton has to play like he did against Denver two weeks ago when he threw for 332 yards and two touchdowns. The Bills defense has given up a lot of passing yards this season, so he has a chance to have another good game.

The defense has been stout, but as mentioned before against bad competition. We are going to see how legit they really are this week. They have to find a way to get pressure on Fitzpatrick in order to keep him from doing what he has done to the Chiefs, Raiders and Patriots.

Prediction

The Bills are hot. The Bengals are not. The Bills might not score over 34 points again this week, but they are going to win this game handily.

Bills 31, Bengals 17