Bengals vs Titans Week 12 Picks and Predictions: Henry and Co. Stave Off Bengals at Home

Week 12 is in full swing, and we have a terrific AFC conference matchup when the 6-4 Cincinnati Bengals meet the 7-3 Tennessee Titans. 

Both sides are riding two-game winning streaks, as Cincinnati upended Pittsburgh on the road and Tennessee knocked off Green Bay at Lambeau.

Who will win this AFC matchup? Find out in our free NFL picks and predictions for Bengals vs. Titans on November 27. 

Bengals vs Titans best odds

Bengals vs Titans picks and predictions

This is a rematch from last season's AFC Divisional game, where the Bengals came out on top 19-16. 

Cincinnati could be without its top two offensive players if running back Joe Mixon and wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase cannot dress. Mixon is in concussion protocol, and Chase is currently listed as questionable.

Joe Burrow threw for 355 yards with four scoring strikes last week but also threw two interceptions. The miscues raised his interception total to eight. Wideouts Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd failed to find the end zone, but backup running back Semaje Perine hauled in three touchdowns, and the Bengals triumphed without Chase and Mixon.

Aside from the turnovers, Burrow has suffered 32 sacks, and he faces a Titans defense ranked ninth in sacks per game and eighth in interceptions. 

Derrick Henry is the primary weapon Tennessee has, and he’s rushed for over 1,000 yards with 10 TDs and 10 plays of over 20 yards. He has a good matchup against a Bengals defense, allowing an average of 117 rushing yards per game.

Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill has been efficient this season, completing 65% of his passes for 1,685 yards with 10 TD passes and four picks. His offensive line keeps his jersey relatively clean, despite Pro Bowl tackle Taylor Lewan being out for the year.

NFL fans might not like this game much because scoring will be at a premium. Mixon and Chase can’t be 100% if they do suit up. Higgins and Perine both had great stats against the Steelers, but none of that will fly on the road against the Tennessee defense.

Henry has to have a big game, and he has a great matchup to take his game to the next level and pound away at a leaky Bengals rushing defense. Tannehill needs to be efficient, move the chains, and keep Burrow and the Cincy offense on the sidelines as much as possible.

If the offense can do that, Tennessee will cover the spread. I fully expect them to do so on Sunday. 

My best bet: Titans +3 (-115 at PointsBet)

Bengals vs Titans spread analysis

I’ve already shared my reasons for taking the Titans +3 as my best bet, but I have some additional notes.

The Titans +125 ML is firmly in play, and I’ll likely sprinkle the moneyline and hit it harder once we know more about Mixon's injury status.

Tennessee has a +8 point differential and has covered the spread in nine consecutive games. Aside from a 41-7 beating by the Buffalo Bills, the Titans have been in every game and are 5-2 straight up in one-score games.

Cincinnati has a +50 point differential and has covered the spread in seven of their last nine. The Bengals are 2-3 SU in one-score games, and their four losses were by a combined 24 points. 

Cincinnati is 7-3 against the spread and 3-3 ATS as the away team. Tennessee is 8-2 ATS and 3-1 ATS at Nissan Stadium. 

Bengals vs Titans Over/Under analysis

The total is 43.5 points, and I’m leaning toward the Under for this matchup.

The Bengals have an explosive offense, but apart from the Dallas Cowboys, the Titans' defense is likely the best they’ve seen over their last five and maybe this season. Cincy had trouble scoring in Dallas, and I expect Tennessee to give Burrow fits.

The Titans' offense doesn’t take many chances and relies heavily on the ground game with Henry. Tennessee hasn't scored more than 27 points in any game this season and now face a stingy Bengals defense allowing 21.5 points per game.

The Over is 4-5-1 through the Bengals' first 10 games and 2-3-1 as the away team. The Over is 3-7 in the Titans' 10 matchups and 1-3 at Nissan Stadium.

The forecast calls for rain throughout the morning, but it will be an otherwise grey day with some wind. Expect a low-scoring slugfest in Nashville. 

Bengals vs Titans betting trend to know

The underdog is 5-1 ATS in the last six meetings between these two teams. Find more NFL betting trends for Bengals vs. Titans.

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