Aug 10, 2024; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Chicago Bears wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. (12) runs with the ball for a touchdown against the Buffalo Bills during the second half at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
- The Chicago Bears host the Cincinnati Bengals Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. ET on NFL Network for Week 2 of the NFL Preseason.
- The Bears (2-0) are considered favorites to keep their perfect preseason record alive against the 0-1 Bengals, who fell to the Buccaneers in preseason Week 1.
- Keep scrolling for a further look at the latest odds, best picks and a prediction for Saturday’s preseason tilt.
Week 2 of the NFL preseason is almost here and we’ve got a good one live on NFL Network Saturday afternoon. The Chicago Bears and perhaps No. 1 overall draft pick Caleb Williams are set to take the field against the Cincinnati Bengals, who are expected to play without starters. Chicago has yet to announce whether starters will hit the field Saturday.
Either way, there’s plenty to be excited about. Keep scrolling for a look at the latest odds from some of the best NFL betting apps and a prediction for Saturday’s Week 2 preseason matchup.
Chicago Bears vs. Cincinnati Bengals Prediction
- Bears -6 (-110)
I think the Bears win this one with Soldier Field’s finest cheering them on. Chicago is 6-2 under Matt Eberflus in the preseason, and they’re fresh off a 33-6 blowout of a good Bills team, even shutting down their starters. That’s impressive, and the Bears backups have been stout on the defensive side since the 2nd quarter of the Hall of Fame game.
The Bengals saw all they needed from Joe Burrow last week against Tampa Bay. He completed 5 of his 7 attempts for a touchdown and finished with a passer rating of 131.5. QB Logan Woodside had a better day than fellow backup Jake Browning, leading a touchdown drive culminating in a 37-yard TD reception by Jermaine Burton.
Slidin’ in @NASAMAINE3
📺: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/BJH8zredZi
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) August 11, 2024
The Bears secondary is deep and should be a high point in their defense this season, which will challenge Browning/Woodside in the 2nd half.
Remember when I mentioned Eberflus is 6-2 in preseason matchups with the Bears? The Bengals’ Zac Taylor is a dreadful 3-10 in such games. It’s hard to lean into that trend too much considering coaches are focused more on individual play than results, but it’s more than relevant in this betting context.
Bears 31, Bengals 17
Bears vs. Bengals Odds (Caesars)
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Bengals | +6 (-110) | +215 | O 36.5 (-115) |
| Chicago Bears | -6 (-110) | -267 | U 36.5 (-105) |
Odds above via Caesars Sportsbook. Check out our Caesars Promo Code for a look at one of the best welcome offers in the business.
The home team is always going to be favored in preseason matchups, and that’s just the case with Bears vs. Bengals on Saturday. Chicago is listed as a touchdown favorite, though the line is bound to shift once a decision has been made regarding Chicago’s starters.
The Bears are considerable moneyline favorites, naturally. Chicago is sitting at -267 to win outright while Cincinnati comes in at +215.
As for the over/under, Caesars has set the total at 36.5 – about the median number across Week 2’s preseason slate. Chicago probably has the better 2nd team offense – one led by Khalil Herbert and Brett Rypien, who has made his push for QB2 in the Windy City.
Bears vs. Bengals Names to Watch
- Jermaine Burton, Cincinnati WR
- Ian Wheeler, Chicago RB
- HM: Caleb Williams, Chicago QB
Let’s get my “honorable mention” addressed front and center: Caleb Williams’ preseason debut was nothing short of fantastic. If he plays Saturday, he’s absolutely the one to keep an eye on. The No. 1 overall pick out of USC completed 4 of his 7 passes for 95 yards with a 13-yard rush for a first down against Buffalo, an even better statline when you remember 2 of his 3 incompletions were in-the-hands drops. We’ll need a bigger sample size to know for sure, but Williams certainly looks the part after Game 1 folks.
Let’s hop over to Cincinnati’s sideline and talk about Jermaine Burton next. You saw his touchdown grab above, but what’s more impressive is that he was by far the most effective receiver on the field last Saturday. He hauled in 3 receptions for 82 yards and a touchdown across 4 total targets absolutely passed the eye test in the process. I’m very interested to follow Burton closely against Chicago’s solid secondary.
Wheeler, for those who watched Hard Knocks, is likely battling for a spot with 3rd-year vet Velus Jones Jr at running back. He runs hard and has shown he’s tough to bring down, even impressive against 3rd team defenses. Wheeler was the leading rusher for both teams in last week’s thrashing of the Bills, totaling 42 yards on 5 carries with 2 touchdowns.
Let’s hear it for Ian Wheeler ~ five carries, 43 yards and two TDs in his debut with the @ChicagoBears!
Way to represent!
🎥: NFL Network pic.twitter.com/w8g0lINwZD
— Howard Athletics (@HUBisonSports) August 10, 2024
Ethan Stone was an editor for his student newspaper at the University of Tennessee and is now a News Manager for Saturday Down South and contributor with SBD!
The Cincinnati Bengals and Chicago Bears are set to face off in Week 2 of the NFL preseason, and fans are eager to see how both teams will perform. The Bengals are coming off a disappointing 2020 season, finishing with a 4-11-1 record, while the Bears finished with an 8-8 record and made it to the playoffs before being eliminated in the Wild Card round.
As the two teams prepare to meet on the field, oddsmakers have set the line for the game. The Bengals are currently listed as 2.5-point favorites over the Bears, with an over/under of 38 points. This means that if you bet on the Bengals to win, they would need to win by at least 3 points in order for you to win your bet. If you bet on the Bears, they would need to either win the game or lose by less than 3 points for you to win your bet.
In terms of predictions for the game, it’s always difficult to predict the outcome of preseason games as teams are still evaluating their rosters and trying out different players. However, based on their performances in Week 1 of the preseason, the Bengals may have a slight edge over the Bears. The Bengals defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 19-14 in their first preseason game, while the Bears lost to the Miami Dolphins 20-13.
One key matchup to watch in this game will be between the Bengals’ offense and the Bears’ defense. The Bengals have a new quarterback in Joe Burrow, who is looking to bounce back from a season-ending knee injury last year. Burrow showed promise in his limited action in Week 1, completing 6 of 9 passes for 60 yards and a touchdown. The Bears’ defense, led by stars like Khalil Mack and Roquan Smith, will be looking to put pressure on Burrow and disrupt the Bengals’ passing game.
Overall, this preseason matchup between the Bengals and Bears should be an interesting one to watch. Both teams will be looking to evaluate their rosters and make decisions on who will make the final cut for the regular season. While the Bengals may have a slight edge based on their performance in Week 1, anything can happen in preseason football. Fans can tune in to see how both teams perform and get a glimpse of what they can expect in the upcoming NFL season.