Bengals vs. Saints Picks, Predictions NFL Week 6: Defensive Struggle in the Bayou?
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow heads back to Louisiana where he starred in college, this time leading his team against the New Orleans Saints. Read on for our Bengals-Saints picks.
The Bengals have had tough luck during their 2-3 start, losing the three games by a combined eight points. They face a 2-3 Saints team that has been trying to piece it together over the last several weeks after key injuries to many of its most prominent offensive players, namely Jameis Winston, Michael Thomas, Alvin Kamara, and Chris Olave.
Here are our Bengals-Saints NFL picks for Week 6 (odds via FanDuel Sportsbook, DraftKings Sportsbook; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale).
Bengals vs. Saints Game Info
Date: Sunday, Oct. 16, 1 p.m. ET
TV: CBS
Location: Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, LA
Weather: Indoors
Bengals vs. Saints Odds
Bengals vs. Saints Odds Analysis
Cincinnati is mostly a 3-point favorite. Both sharps and the public are backing the favorites, as the Bengals are attracting 70% of tickets and 69% of the cash.
FanDuel is offering a total of 42.5, while most others are at 43. The Over is getting 56% of the cash and 76% of the tickets.
Bengals vs. Saints Picks
Bengals vs. Saints ATS Pick
Saints +2 (-110) ★★
Joe Burrow finished last week's game with a 30.6 QBR, which is concerning considering Baltimore came into the game ranked last in pass defense and since he torched the division rival for 941 passing yards in two games last year. Sacks continue to be an issue, as he has been dropped 89 times since the start of last season, the most in the NFL.
New Orleans is coming off a game where it scored 39 points despite not having Winston, Thomas, or Jarvis Landry available. In some ways, having Andy Dalton as starting quarterback is an upgrade over Winston, as the latter is a big reason the team ranks last in the league with a -8 turnover differential.
In Winston's absence, the Saints have also utilized more packages with Taysom Hill at quarterback. Hill has been spectacular, including last week when he became the third player in NFL history with three-plus rushing touchdowns, 100-plus rushing yards, and a passing touchdown. Hill and Alvin Kamara were the first pair of Saints players to rush for 100-plus yards in a game for the first time since 2017, and they have given the Bengals an added dimension to game plan for.
Bengals vs. Saints O/U Pick
Under 43.5 (-110) ★★★★
What do the Bengals and L.A. Rams have in common besides being last year's Super Bowl participants? They are the two worst teams in terms of yards gained per play this season, with the Bengals ranking 31st. Cincinnati attempted just six passes (completed four) of 11 or more air yards against Baltimore and could not take advantage of a Ravens defense that had allowed 30 such completions entering the game, per ESPN Stats & Information.
The Bengals have made up for offensive shortcomings by playing solid defense. Before Lamar Jackson's game-winning drive, he was 17-of-30 for 159 yards and an interception on Sunday night. Cincinnati followed up a streak where it allowed one touchdown on opponents' last 31 drives by allowing just one touchdown to the high-powered Ravens offense through four quarters.
Bengals vs. Saints Prop Pick
Chase Under receiving yards (OFF) ★★★
Ja'Marr Chase has been peppered with the fourth-most targets among all wide receivers, but his lack of production despite those targets is alarming. His catch rate is down from 63.3% to 60.4%, and his aDOT is way down from 13.6 yards to 9.5 yards from last year to this year.
The lack of ability for Chase to hit the home run play is a big reason Cincinnati has fallen from leading the league in yards per attempt to ranking just 18th this year. With Tee Higgins not 100% with an ankle injury, look for the Saints' defense to make Chase even more of a focal point.
Where to Bet on Bengals vs. Saints Picks
Bengals-Saints picks made 10/13/2022 at 6:06 a.m. ET
