San Francisco 49ers vs Cincinnati Bengals Spreads NFL Week 3 Picks: The Cincinnati Bengals play host to the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday Sept 25th, as the Bengals look to show off their rookie QB Andy Dalton after a great Week 2 loss. The Niners won their last meeting over the Bengals 20-13, at home, back in 2007. NFL oddsmakers have the Bengals as -2.5 point home favorites over the Niners with the over/under set at 41 points. Start your NFL Week 3 Picks off right by getting your bet on the latest Niners vs Bengals Spreads available now.
San Francisco (1-1) lost in Week 2, 24-27 (OT) at home, to Dallas. The Niners were trying to move to 2-0 under new coach Jim Harbaugh after a 33-17 victory over defending NFC West champion Seattle in Week 1. QB Alex Smith threw for 179 yards and two touchdowns, including a 29-yard strike to Delanie Walker in the third quarter. Smith was sacked six times as San Francisco's offensive line often failed to protect him or give him ample time in the pocket to be effective. RB Frank Gore had 20 carries for 47 yards with a touchdown. The Niners defense gave up a 10 point lead. If you can’t count on your defense protecting a 10-point lead with just over 11 minutes to play, your team isn’t ready for prime time. Frank Gore has lost a little, probably because of the beating he took running against defenses stacked against him. Gore won’t lose his starting role because he’s a better pass blocker and receiver than the younger backs behind him, but Harbaugh is going to have to make more use of rookie Kendall Hunter and second-year back Anthony Dixon. In Sunday’s game, Dixon carried once, Hunter not at all. The Bengals should be a perfect chance for the Niners to improve.
Cincinnati (1-1) lost in Denver, 22-24 in Week 2, for the ninth straight time. QB Andy Dalton, who bruised his right wrist and forearm in Cincinnati's win at Cleveland a week earlier, threw for 332 yards for the Bengals, hitting fellow rookie A.J. Green 10 times for 124 yards and Jerome Simpson four times for 136 yards. RB Cedric Benson had 16 carries for 59 yards. Red Dalton was that good in the second half Sunday when he nearly led the Bengals on a fourth-quarter mission. This kid Dalton is different. He is different in the huddle, where he is decisive and commanding, and he is different on the sidelines, where he is "screaming and yelling" in the words of Whitworth, at his teammates. "Just stay with me!" Dalton could be heard howling in the second half, as the Bengals dug from a 17-3 hole. The Niners rookie offensive coordinator had his Dalton taking deeper drops and throwing downfield. In the first half, Dalton looked like a good rookie; in the second half, he looked like a very good pro. "We had to unleash it to get back in the game. He showed he could sure as hell do it."
Recent Trends to Consider:
49ers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a S.U. loss.
Bengals are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games in Week 3.
Bengals are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games in September.
Bengals are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
49ers are 1-6-3 ATS in their last 10 games as a road underdog of 0.5-3.0.
49ers are 0-3-1 ATS in their last 4 games as an underdog.
49ers are 0-7-2 ATS in their last 9 games as an underdog of 0.5-3.0.
San Francisco 49ers vs Cincinnati Bengals
When: Sunday Sept 25th@1:00 PM ET
Pick: Niners +2.5
Point-Spreads recommends you check the latest NFL Point Spreads before the Niners vs Bengals game starts.
The Bottom Line: The Niners can take this if their defense steps up, against a rookie quarterback. Start the 2011 NFL season off right by getting your bet on the latest San Francisco 49ers vs Cincinnati Bengals Spreads available now.
