Monday Night Football Week 14: Bengals vs Cowboys – Analysis of Odds, Picks, and Predictions

• The Bengals are 5.5-point road favorites over the Cowboys on Monday Night Football in Week 14
• Cincinnati has allowed at least 34 points in four of their last five games
• Check out the Bengals vs Cowboys odds, picks and prediction for MNF

Before the season, most experts would have predicted a Week 14 Bengals (4-8) vs Cowboys (5-7) Monday Night Football showdown would be ripe with playoff implications. Instead, this is just a matchup between two teams already looking ahead to next year. Cincinnati and Dallas have been two of the most disappointing teams in the league so far. Online sportsbooks expect the Cowboys misery to continue, as they’ve pegged the Bengals as sizeable chalk in the latest football betting lines.

Cincinnati Bengals vs Dallas Cowboys Odds

Cincinnati is currently favored by 5.5-points, after opening at -6. Bettors are all-in on the Bengals in this spot, as Joe Burrow and Co. are drawing 72% of the spread wagers and 87% of the handle. 

 Odds as of December 6 at BetMGM. Be sure to check out the best BetMGM promo code before placing a bet on Monday Night Football.

Total-wise, the action is just as lopsided according to the NFL public betting percentages. 59% of the over/under tickets are backing over 49.5, which is accounting for 83% of the total money.

Kickoff for this primetime clash is set for 8:15 pm ET from AT&T Stadium, in Dallas, TX with ESPN providing the broadcast coverage.

Expect Little Defense

Both of these teams have been cash cows for over bettors this season. Only Baltimore’s games have flown over the total more often than Cincy’s contests (75%), while 67% of the Cowboys games have also gone over.

We’ll get to how bad the Bengals defense is momentarily, but first let’s start with the matchup advantages their offense can exploit. Burrow enters Week 14 as the NFL’s leader in passing yards and touchdowns, while ranking fourth in passer rating. He’s thrown at least three touchdowns in four straight starts, leading the Bengals to an average 35 points per game during that stretch.

“Joe Burrow should be MVP.”@RSherman_25 speaking his mind 🗣 pic.twitter.com/a091QijzPo

— NFL on Prime Video (@NFLonPrime) December 6, 2024

Ja’Marr Chase meanwhile, is having an incredible season that not enough people are talking about. Chase leads the league in receiving yards and touchdowns, scoring four more times than any other wideout. He’s hauled in six touchdowns in his last three contests, to go along with 24 catches.

Dallas rates out better versus the pass than the run, but Burrow has excelled no matter how difficult the matchup has been this season. On the off chance the Cowboys can slow down Burrow and Chase, running back Chase Brown might go nuclear.

Brown has at least 86 rushing yards or a touchdown in five straight starts. Dallas’ run D allows the fifth most yards per carry, and the sixth most overall production to enemy backs.

As good as Cincy’s offense is, it hasn’t been good enough to overcome a porous defense. The Bengals have allowed at least 35 points in four of five games. They’ve lost four times in 2024 when scoring at least 33 points, and are fresh off being humiliated by Russell Wilson and the Steelers.

Russ cooked them for 414 passing yards, including over 250 yards after the catch. Cincinnati grades out bottom-10 in tackling for the season, and bottom-5 in both pass rush and coverage per Pro Football Focus.

Bengals vs Cowboys Prediction

That’s music to Cooper Rush and the Cowboys offense ears. After weeks of dismal offensive performances, with both Dak Prescott and Rush under center, the latter has righted the ship. Dallas is averaging over 30 points per game in their last two outings, and Rush is a big reason for it.

He’s completed 66% of his throws for 442 yards and 3 TD. Most importantly however, he hasn’t committed a turnover. A competent passing game has paved the way for some rushing success as well, which has sorely been lacking. Rico Dowdle has ripped off nearly 200 yards over the past two outings, finding the end zone last week versus Giants.

The #Bengals defense has given up 34+ points in a game SIX times this season pic.twitter.com/EJv3n1A9qP

— Jacob Matthew (@JakeMatthewList) December 4, 2024

You could argue that big outputs versus the Commanders and Giants, Dallas’ last two opponents, is nothing to brag about, but both grade out significantly better than this Bengals defense. You have to go all the way back to Week 7 to find an opponent that hasn’t scored at least 24 points against them, and we shouldn’t be surprised if the Cowboys fly over that number on Monday.

Bengals vs Cowboys Pick: Over 49.5 (-110) at
BetMGM

Monday Night Football in Week 14 features a matchup between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Dallas Cowboys. Both teams are coming off disappointing losses in Week 13 and will be looking to bounce back with a win on the national stage.

The Bengals (2-9-1) are currently in last place in the AFC North and have struggled to find consistency on both sides of the ball. Quarterback Joe Burrow has shown flashes of brilliance in his rookie season, but has also had his fair share of rookie mistakes. The Bengals defense has also struggled, ranking near the bottom of the league in points allowed per game.

On the other side, the Cowboys (3-9) have had a tumultuous season marred by injuries to key players, most notably quarterback Dak Prescott. Backup quarterback Andy Dalton has filled in admirably, but the Cowboys have still struggled to find success on offense. The defense has also been a liability, giving up an average of 32.8 points per game.

In terms of odds, the Cowboys are currently listed as 3.5-point favorites over the Bengals. The over/under for the game is set at 42.5 points. Despite their struggles, the Cowboys are favored in this matchup due to their slightly better record and home-field advantage.

As for picks and predictions, it’s a tough call given the inconsistency of both teams. The Bengals have shown they can compete with some of the best teams in the league, while the Cowboys have had moments of brilliance as well. In the end, I believe the Cowboys will come out on top in a close game, with a final score of 24-21.

Overall, Monday Night Football in Week 14 promises to be an exciting matchup between two struggling teams looking to turn their seasons around. Tune in to see if the Bengals or Cowboys can come out on top in this must-win game.