Cincinnati at Tennessee

The Cincinnati Bengals have already surpassed their win total of a year ago through just seven games this year. Sometimes when a team has been bad the previous year it is hard to let go of that image. They really weren't that bad last year. They won only 4 games and that's where the public stops. But, they had the toughest schedule in the league last season, and they suffered through a lot of bad luck (-8 net turnovers). This season, the schedule has been softer and the turnovers have gone their way. As a result, they are 5-2 straight-up and 6-1 ATS. Yet, there are still a lot of non-believers. The Bengals have been getting it done on the defensive side of the ball, where last year they finished a pedestrian No. 15 in yards allowed per game. This year they have tightened things up considerably and rank No. 4 in the league. Tennessee has not had a lot of success on defense where they are in the bottom half of the league at No. 19. The Titans have also suffered on offense, and amazingly Chris Johnson has is now looking up at Javon Ringer in terms of likely touches. That will put a lot of the pressure on Matt Hasselbeck. But without star receiver Kenny Britt, and a No. 9 ranked Bengals aerial stop unit, there isn't the likelihood that the Titans get a lot going here. Cedric Benson will return from suspension just in time to find a suddenly leaky Titans run-stop unit that has yielded over 5 yards per carry since Week five. The Bengals are 3-1 on the road, and they are also 6-0 ATS following a straight-up win, and have covered their last eight vs. AFC opponents dating back to last year. The Titans are not as consistent and are just 1-5 ATS following a straight-up win. In his career in Cincinnati, Marvin Lewis has shined in expected close games, going 32-21 ATS in games with a line of -3 to +3. Take the better team getting points.