It’s a matchup of two teams looking to improve their playoff standing in their respective conferences when the Cincinnati Bengals host the San Francisco 49ers.
The Niners saw their three-game winning streak snapped last week and are still dealing with a plethora of injuries, while the Bengals were left licking their wounds after giving up 41 points in a loss to the Chargers.
Which team will bounce back, cover the short spread and move one step closer to the playoffs? Find out in our free NFL picks and predictions for 49ers at Bengals on December 12.
49ers vs Bengals odds
Odds via the Covers Line, an average comprised of odds from multiple sportsbooks.
The Bengals opened this matchup as 1-point home favorites but the line has jumped the fence and it’s now the 49ers who are 1.5-point road chalk. The total hit the board at 47 and has been bet up to 48.5 as of Thursday night.
Use the live odds widget above to track any future line movements right up until kickoff and be sure to check out the full NFL odds before placing your bets.
49ers vs Bengals predictions
Predictions made on 12/10/2021 at 11:00 a.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.
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49ers vs Bengals game info
• Location: Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati, OH
• Date: Sunday, December 12, 2021
• Time: 4:25 p.m. ET
• TV: CBS
49ers at Bengals betting preview
Weather
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Key injuries
49ers: Tyrell Adams LB (Out), Dontae Johnson CB (Out), Colton McKivitz OG (Out), Trenton Cannon RB (Out), Dre Greenlaw LB (Out), Maurice Hurst DT (Out), Elijah Mitchell RB (Out), Emmanuel Moseley CB (Out).
Bengals: Markus Bailey LB (Out), Chris Evans RB (Out), Trenton Irwin WR (Out), Fred Johnson OT (Out), Khalid Kareem DE (Out), Tyler Shelvin DT (Out), Logan Wilson LB (Out).
Find our latest NFL injury reports.
Betting trend to know
The Over is 5-1 in the 49ers' last six games as a favorite and 5-1 in the Bengals' last six games overall. Find more NFL betting trends for 49ers vs. Bengals.
49ers vs Bengals picks and predictions
Our predictions are compiled from the analysis of the spread and total and are indications of where we are leaning for this game.
Our best bet is the play that we like the most for this game, which we would actually put some of our bankroll behind.
Moneyline analysis
The 49ers saw their three-game winning streak snapped at the hands of the rival Seahawks, dropping them to 6-6 but still in command of one of the NFC wildcard spots.
Quarterback Jimmy Garappolo struggled in the loss, throwing two interceptions, but has performed well overall this season, orchestrating a Niners offense that ranks fourth in DVOA. But the 49ers' success on offense in this game could depend on the availability of two key players in Deebo Samuel and Elijah Mitchell.
Samuel has been one of the best receivers in the NFL this season, hauling in 56 catches for 1,006 yards, but he has been so much more than that, as the Niners' second-leading rusher with 203 yards. Mitchell meanwhile, has put 759 yards in his rookie season. Both are questionable for this matchup.
If they are unable to go, the Bengals' defense that ranks 11th against the rush in DVOA and is has allowed just 3.7 yards per carry over their last three games can shut down the ground game, then key on a guy like George Kittle. This means moving the ball could be tough for the Niners.
The Bengals, on the other hand, are coming off a humbling loss to the Chargers where they gave up 41 points, but trail the Ravens by just a game in the AFC North.
Joe Burrow threw two picks in that game and he’ll need to limit the turnovers if the Bengals want to get back in the win column. But what makes this Bengals offense dangerous is when it has a good balance between the pass and run game.
If they can move the ball enough with Mixon on the ground to make the Niners respect the run game, Burrow should be able to take advantage of a San Francisco secondary that ranks 17th in DVOA against the pass. Look for him to reestablish his connection with Ja’Marr Chase, while Tee Higgins is peaking at the right time.
Keep an eye on the status of Samuel and Mitchell but with the 49ers traveling on the road for the second straight week, we’re betting the Bengals to bounce back and get a win at home.
Prediction: Bengals ML (+110)
Over/Under analysis
The early action on the total for this matchup has come in on the Over and I tend to agree.
If you told most people that the 49ers had the fourth-rated offense in the NFL by DVOA, they may give you a quizzical look, but it’s true and it has really shown recently. The Niners are averaging 28 points per game over the last six games and have scored 30 or more four times over that span.
While the Bengals' defense is improving, it is coming off a performance where it allowed the Chargers to score 41 points and has allowed 34 or more three times in the last five games.
The Bengals' offense meanwhile, is starting to really earn their stripes. The Higgins resurgence has helped take some off Chase, and Mixon has been rolling. That balance has made the Bengals hard to stop, as they have scored 31 points per game over their last seven games.
They face a solid Niners defense, but they have allowed 22 points or more in five of their last seven games. This game could be a bit of a shootout.
Prediction: Over 48.5 (-110)
Best bet
Once again, I would say keep an eye on the status of Deebo Samuel heading into this matchup. But if he is able to go, lock in that Over. He brings such a dynamic presence to the 49ers' offense as head coach Kyle Shanahan can use him in so many ways.
The 49ers and Bengals are both balanced on offense and can put up points, while ranking 15th and fifth respectively in plays run per game over the last three weeks. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that the Over is trending for both teams either.
Pick: Over 48.5 (-110)
