Cincinnati vs. Jacksonville: Spread Information, Line and Predictions

The Cincinnati Bengals and the Jacksonville Jaguars may as well be the poster boys for teams that are rebuilding in 2011.

So far, the process has gone better than expected for the Bengals. Rookie quarterback Andy Dalton has turned out to be a good find, and fellow rookie A.J. Green looks like a star in the making at wide receiver. Thanks in large part to their efforts, the Bengals are 2-2.

The Jaguars have not been as lucky. They've lost three games in a row and have essentially committed the rest of the season as a learning period for rookie quarterback Blaine Gabbert.

On Sunday, these two teams will come face-to-face. Let's take a closer look at the matchup.

Where: EverBank Field, Jacksonville

When: Sunday at 1:00 p.m. EDT

Watch: CBS, DirecTV 707 and streaming online via DirecTV's NFL Sunday Ticket To-Go package.

Over/Under (According to Bodog): 37 points

It's a sensible number seeing as how both teams have trouble putting points on the scoreboard.

To boot, I don't think either team has a clear offensive advantage in this game. The Bengals have an underrated defense, and it should be just fine against Jacksonville's lackluster offense.

But because the Bengals are not going to blow the Jags out of the water, I'd actually take the under here.

Spread (According to Bodog): Jacksonville -3

I get that the Jaguars are at home, but I don't think they stack up very well against the Bengals. Offense is going to be at a premium in this game, and I think the Bengals have slightly more of it.

I'd pick them to win outright.

Key Injuries

The Bengals' official website claims that cornerback Kelly Jennings has been unable to practice with a hamstring injury each of the last two days, and the Sporting News made it sound like he might not play on Sunday. The good news is that rookie linebacker Dontay Moch might be able to play after missing eight weeks with a broken foot.

On the Jacksonville side of things, The Florida Times-Union reported on Thursday that left tackle Eugene Monroe should be good to go on Sunday after sitting out in Week 4. Unfortunately, it looks like cornerback Derek Cox is going to be out for a second week in a row, and it is still unknown if defensive end Aaron Kampman is going to be able to play.

Fantasy Big Plays

With Blaine Gabbert still figuring things out under center, expect Maurice Jones-Drew to get a heavy workload against the Bengals. He's always a safe play, and this weekend will be no exception.

For now, it still seems safe to play Bengals running back Cedric Benson. He has a suspension looming over his head, but his appeal has managed to delay it. Benson should be good to go on Sunday, and he will certainly get carries.

Lastly, you must start A.J. Green. He came into the league with plenty of hype attached to his name, and he's lived up to it. Expect another solid game out of him, maybe even a big game.

Keys to Bengals Win

If the Bengals are able to limit Jones-Drew, they're not going to have to worry about the Jaguars scoring too many points. Gabbert may be a good quarterback one day, but he has a lot of learning to do before he gets to that point.

Offensively, it will be a simple matter of wearing Jacksonville down with a steady diet of Cedric Benson. That's going to make it much easier for Dalton, who has been a pleasant surprise in his rookie season.

Keys to Jaguars Win

The Jags are coming off a game in which they held the high-powered New Orleans Saints offense to 23 points, which should tell you how sneaky good they are defensively. If they can stymie the Bengals' offense, this game could go either way.

But winning it will be primarily up to Jones-Drew. He needs to do what he does best, which is going to be easier said than done with Cincinnati's defense likely keyed toward stopping him. If he can pick up tough yards, though, things are going to open up for Gabbert.

Prediction: Bengals 17, Jaguars 13

With these two teams at work in the same building, I highly doubt we're going to see a pretty game. It will be ugly, but I think the Bengals will take it.