Rams vs. Bengals: Final score prediction, odds and best bet
The Los Angeles Rams and Cincinnati Bengals will wrap up Week 3 on Monday night when they square off in the second game of a Monday Night Football doubleheader. It’s a rematch of the thrilling game they played in Super Bowl LVI, though both teams look very different now than they did in that one.
The Rams come into this one without Cooper Kupp again as he recovers from a hamstring injury, while Joe Burrow is questionable to play due to a calf strain. Even with Burrow uncertain and the Bengals being 0-2, the Rams are still underdogs to their AFC North foes.
Can the Rams pull off the road “upset” and beat the Bengals like they did in the Super Bowl? Here’s our final score prediction, along with the latest odds and a best bet to make (odds via BetMGM).
Betting lines
Moneyline (ML): Rams +110 :: Bengals -130
Against the spread (ATS): Rams +1.5 (-105) :: Bengals -1.5 (-115)
Over/Under (O/U): 43.5 (O: -110 U: -110)
Rams at Bengals injury report:
Rams
- WR Cooper Kupp (hamstring) out
- WR Puka Nacua (oblique) questionable
Bengals
- QB Joe Burrow (calf) questionable
- TE Irv Smith Jr. (hamstring) questionable
Final score prediction and best bet
The Rams have looked much better than anticipated this season despite only being 1-1. They beat the Seahawks easily in the opener and held their own against the 49ers, and despite being without Kupp, the offense had the second-most yards in the NFL in the first two weeks.
The Bengals, on the other hand, had the fewest yards in the league through Week 2, and it’s not just because Burrow has been banged up. They haven’t looked like the same team that went 12-4 last season and the Rams are now in position to hand them their third loss.
If the Rams are going to win this game, regardless of who’s at quarterback for the Bengals, they’ll need to apply pressure. Cincinnati has one of the best receiver tandems in the league with Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, and they’re almost certain to do some damage even if it’s Jake Browning under center.
The Rams don’t exactly have the cornerbacks to consistently shut down top-tier receivers like they did with Jalen Ramsey, though they did play well against DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett in Week 1.
The Rams are the better team right now and should take care of business on Monday night.
Best bet: Tutu Atwell longest reception over 20.5 yards (-120)
Prediction: Rams 23, Bengals 20
