Opening Line: Bengals Road Favorite for Sunday's Matchup Against Titans

In the past decade, the Cincinnati Bengals have been a good bet against the Tennessee Titans, and oddsmakers are leaning that way again on Sunday when the two teams meet in Nashville. Here's the latest on the point spread, plus a great history of both teams in their last five meetings.

NASHVILLE — The Cincinnati Bengals finally got into the win column on Monday night after opening the season with two losses. The oddsmakers think that winning trend will continue on Sunday when they take on the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium in Nashville.

The Bengals are favored by 2.5 points, and the over/under is 40.5, according to the DraftKings gambling website. The game is at Noon CT on Sunday, and is televised on Fox.

Both teams are 1-2 on the season so far. The Titans have lost two road games, but won their lone home game against the Los Angeles Chargers. The Titans have been the underdog in all three games thus far.

Both teams have already played the Cleveland Browns, and neither had any success. The Bengals lost 24-3 to open the season and the Titans were drilled 27-3 in Cleveland a week ago.

Titans defensive coordinator Shane Bowen talked about the Bengals on Thursday. The video of his interview is attached.

Here is a breakdown on what both teams have done against the spread, both this year and recently. These two teams have played in each of the past three seasons, with the Bengals winning straight up all three times. Cincinnati has posted some huge numbers against the spread as well in showdowns with the Titans.

Here's all the good stuff.

Bengals vs. the number in 2023

• WEEK 1: Lost at Cleveland Browns 24-3 in a pick 'em game. The total (27) went far under the 46.5-point line. Record: 0-1. Against the spread: 0-1. Under Total Record: 1-0.
• WEEK 2: Lost at home to Baltimore Ravens 27-24 as a 3.5-point favorite. The total (51) went over the 44.5-point line. Record: 0-2. Against the spread: 0-2. Under Total Record: 1-1.
• WEEK 3: Won at home to Los Angeles Rams 19-16 as a 2-point favorite. The total (35) went over the 45.5-point line. Record: 1-2. Against the spread: 1-2. Under Total Record: 2-1.

Titans vs. the number in 2023

• WEEK 1: Lost at New Orleans Saints 16-15 as a 3-point underdog. The total (31) went far under the 41.5-point line. Record: 0-1. Against the spread: 1-0. Under Total Record: 1-0.
• WEEK 2: Wont at home against Los Angeles Chargers 27-24 in overtime as a 2.5-point underdog. The total (51) went over the 45.5-point line. Record: 1-1. Against the spread: 2-0. Under Total Record: 1-1.
• WEEK 3: Lost at Cleveland Browns 27-3 as a 3.5-point underdog. The total (30) went far under the 38.5-point line. Record: 1-2. Against the spread: 2-1. Under Total Record: 2-1.

Last 5 meetings between Bengals-Titans

During the past decade, the teams have met five times, including once in the playoffs following the 2021 season. The Bengals are 4-1 straight up and 4-0-1 against the spread, which are some numbers worth considering. 

• BENGALS 20, TITANS 16 on Nov. 27, 2022: The Bengals won a pick 'em game in Nashville, and the game went under the 42.5-point total. Ryan Tannehill passed for 291 yards for Tennessee, and Joe Burrow had 270 for Cincinnati. Derrick Henry had just 38 yards rushing on 17 carries for the Titans.
• BENGALS 19, TITANS 16 in playoffs on Jan. 22, 2022: The Bengals won this critical playoff game, beating the No. 1 seeded Titans as a 4-point underdog. The game went far under the 48.5-point total. The Bengals won on a 52-yard field goal by Evan McPherson as time expired. Cincinnati won three playoff games that season before losing in the Super Bowl to the Los Angeles Rams.
• BENGALS 31, TITANS 20 on Nov. 1, 2020: The Bengals led wire-to-wire despite being 7-point underdogs. The two teams went over the 49-point total just barely. Ryan Tannehill threw for 233 yards and Derrick Henry rushed for 112 for the Titans.
• TITANS 24, BENGALS 20 on Nov. 12, 2017: The Titans won on a touchdown pass from Marcus Mariota to DeMarco Murray with 36 seconds left. The Titans were 4-point favorites, so the game ended with a push. The game went over the 40.5 total. 
• BENGALS 33, TITANS 7 on Sept. 21, 2014: This was the second of 14 losses during the 2014 season for the Titans in their worst season since moving to Tennessee. Cincinnati was a 7-point favorite and the total went under the 43.5-point mark. Quarterback Jake Locker threw two interceptions for the Titans.

Related stories on Titans-Bengals

• TOM BREW COLUMN: The Tennessee Titans mustered just 94 yards of total offense last Sunday and they're near the bottom in just about every offensive category through three weeks. The pressure is on offensive coordinator Tim Kelly and star running back Derrick Henry to turn things around, starting on Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals. Hard questions, great answers from Kelly and Henry on Thursday. CLICK HERE
• THURSDAY INJURY REPORT: The Tennessee Titans saw some key members of the team miss practice on Thursday ahead of their Week 4 contest with the Cincinnati Bengals. Here is the latest injury report. CLICK HERE
• BOWEN ON BURROW: The Tennessee Titans will be taking on a quarterback who they have never beaten in Cincinnati Bengals' passer Joe Burrow, but with Burrow limited by injury, Titans' defensive coordinator Shane Bowen admits its a different challenge. CLICK HERE
• TIGHT ENDS STRUGGLING: The Tennessee Titans have seen issues with all levels of the offense through three weeks and that includes the tight end group, which may be the worst in the NFL so far. CLICK HERE
• VRABEL TALKS FULTON-CHASE MATCHUP: The Tennessee Titans will need a bounce-back performance from cornerback Kristian Fulton as he takes on one of the best wide receivers in the league this week in Cincinnati's Ja'Marr Chase. Mike Vrabel kept his advice simple: "Do your job." CLICK HERE
• BREAKING TITANS TENDENCIES: The Tennessee Titans have a tough task ahead of them in Week 4 in the Cincinnati Bengals and if they hope to finally beat Joe Burrow and crew, they will need to break their own tendencies and play a different kind of football. CLICK HERE