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Cincinnati Bengals at Oakland Raiders NFL Predictions & Picks

Written by Jimmy Boyd on November 20, 2009

The 7-2 Cincinnati Bengals head west to take on the 2-7 Oakland Raiders this Sunday in a Week 11 AFC non-conference clash. Last week, Cincy solidified itself as the team to beat in the AFC North with an 18-12 win over rival Pittsburgh to sweep the season series. Last week didn’t go as well for the Raiders, which fell 16-10 to division rival Kansas City. These two teams last met in the 2006 season with the Bengals winning big 27-10, but the Raiders have won three of the last four meetings to take a commanding 19-8 lead in the all-time series. NFL odds makers have listed the Cincinnati Bengals as a 9.5-point favorite with the total set at 36.

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A win Sunday would give the Bengals a fifth straight road victory, which is something the team has never done before. While they are nearly a double-digit favorite, pulling off the feat figures to be no easy task as they are 0-8 all-time on the road against the Raiders. The Raiders already showed they can hang with the big dogs on any given Sunday with a win over the Eagles earlier this season so the Bengals will have to avoid any letdowns after an emotional win last week.

The big news in Bengals camp is the signing of former Chiefs star and known problem child Larry Johnson. And the Bengals may not waste any time getting him into the action as Cedric Benson’s sore hip could keep him sidelined.

While we hear so much about Benson, Carson Palmer, Chad Ochocinco and the Bengals offense, the defense deserves plenty of shine, especially at the cornerback position. The Packers’ Al Harris and Charles Woodson are largely regarded as the NFL’s best corners tandem, but I’m not so sure that the Bengals’ Leon Hall and Jonathan Joseph shouldn’t get more consideration. The Oakland passing game is awful and these two could make it an impossibility for Oakland to throw the football this week. It is worth noting that the Bengals are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 road games. If you like Cincy to keep right on rolling this week, bet the Bengals at -9.5 at BetUS.

It is clear that JaMarcus Russell isn’t the guy for the Raiders, at least for now. Coach Cable made that perfectly clear when he benched him for the second time in three games last week. While Cable hasn’t completely ruled out sending Russell back out there, it appears that he’s ready to go in a different direction with Bruce Gradkowski or Charlie Frye.

Last week, Russell was pulled in the third quarter after completing just 8 of 23 passes for 64 yards. It’s hard to say his replacement, Gradkowski, was better as he was picked off twice. He strained his hamstring in last week’s game with the Chiefs and that could keep him out of the starting discussion this week. Whoever Cable ultimately decides on will lead an offense that ranks 31st in the league with a 9.8 points per game scoring average.

It was the defense that helped the Raiders pull off a big upset over the Eagles and it will have to be the defense that does the job again here. It is worth noting that the Bengals are only 1-10 ATS in their last 11 games as a favorite of 3.5-10.0 points. If you think Oakland can keep this one within the number, bet the Raiders at +9.5 at BetUS.

Jimmy Boyd is off to a 1-0 start in Week 11 action with Thursday’s winner on the Dolphins. He’s now a solid 6-3 his last nine in the NFL and he’s ready to keep the winning football picks coming Sunday. Join him!

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