Cincinnati Bengals 2009 Season Preview, Picks & Odds

With the NFL Football season just around the corner, we are providing season previews for all 32 teams to give you the betting edge. Follow the best NFL Football Handicappers as they analyze their teams in this 2009 season preview. Use our comprehensive and insider info to bet successfully on the NFL in our recommened sportsbooks.View the rest of our 2009 NFL Season Previews here.

Cincinnati Bengals 2008 NFL Record: 4-11 | Cincinnati Bengals ATS (Against The Spread): 7-9

The 2008 season was not a good one for the Cincinnati Bengals. Franchise quarterback Carson Palmer missed most of the year and was ineffective in the handful of games he was able to play.

The running game never got going either, and the result was a team that ranked dead last in the NFL in points scored and yards, while finishing 29 th in rushing yards and 30 th in passing yards.

The team also continued to struggle with the controversies headed by the legally challenged Chris Henry and the attention craving Chad Johnson, who by the way is now officially Chad Ochocinco.

CINCINNATI BENGALS 2009 PREVIEW

This is a big year for coach Marvin Lewis’ future and it all lies in the hands of the 2009 Cincinnati Bengals players. The departure of T.J. Houshmandzadeh will be tough but they got Laveranues Coles to help fill the void. They also had very solid draft this year, couple of guys should have big playing time right away. Andre Smith was taken 6th overall and should be perfect to help out in a position they really needed. Then 38th they picked up Rey Maualuga who was a beast at inside linebacker Southern Cal. and the trojan linebackers usually do very well in the NFL. Somehow the Bengals got a third 1st round pick and they chose Michael Johnson defensive end from Georgia Tech. The Bengals also made some other free agent grabs that should help the defense, they picked up 2 ex-Cowboys strong safety Roy williams and defensive tackle Tank Johnson. Not to mention they still have Carson Palmer who wants to prove to everyone that he is an elite quarterback in the NFL. Chad Johnson changed his name and hopefully his attitude towards the Bengals organization, he is now offically Chad Ochocinco. Chad and Carson are supposed to be roommates for the month of July to help rekindle their relationship. You can get a good look at the Bengals preseason because they will be the team on this years HBO’s “Hard Knocks”. The Bengals were very competitive last year, though their 4-11-1 record did not show it they were in a lot of close games last year. The defense was not that bad last year, they ranked just outside the top 10 in total defense in 12th position. Cedric Benson got a 2 year deal to stay with the Bengals and will be their starting running back if he is able to stay healthy.

2009 CINCINNATI BENGALS OFFENSE:

The Bengals offense was absolutely putrid in the 2008 NFL season, ranking last throughout the entire league in both yards gained and points scored. A dubious feat, it has much to do with the injuries suffered by Carson Palmer. Without Palmer in the lineup, the wide receiving tandem of Houshmandzadeh and Johnson were no longer major threats, and the running game was snuffed out without much of a fight. With Houshmandzadeh gone, Palmer will have one less target to turn to. Laveraneus Coles is a solid number two wide receiver, but he can’t completely fill the shoes of Houshmandzadeh. More concerning is the lack of a running game. The club hopes first round draft pick Andre Smith can help that, as well as help to keep Palmer healthy. However, first year offensive tackles, especially ones changing sides of the formation, are never guarantees to make a positive instant impact.

2009 CINCINNATI BENGALS DEFENSE:

The once proud leader of the Baltimore Ravens Super Bowl winning defense, Marvin Lewis has been unable to craft a squad that comes anywhere close to that kind of quality. The club took a flier on defensive tackle Tank Johnson to help plug up the middle, and considering their recent history with players having legal troubles, it shows the desperate status of the club. Second round draft pick, linebacker Ray Maualuga out of USC, may be able to inject some life, energy and teeth into the entire unit. At least that’s what the club is pinning their defensive hopes on for the 2009 NFL season.

CINCINNATI BENGALS 2009 SEASON PREDICTIONS

We predict that the Cincinnati Bengals will finish 3rd in the AFC North, with a record of 8-8.

CINCINNATI BENGALS BETTING

Super Bowl Odds: +6000

AFC Conference Odds: +3000

AFC North Odds: +600

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