Jeff Gold, ESPN Contributor 9y

How Vegas experts view DEN-CIN

NFL

Two likely playoff teams face off in one of the best "Monday Night Football" matchups of the season. Both the Denver Broncos and Cincinnati Bengals are closing in on winning their respective divisions. It could be a precursor to another matchup in a couple of weeks, one with much more significance.

The Broncos are back on track with four straight wins after an uncharacteristic midseason hiccup, when they badly lost two of three games by 15 or more points. The seven points against St. Louis in a 22-7 loss was the lowest output for the Broncos during the Peyton Manning era. The Broncos need one more win this year to ensure a first-round bye.

For his career, Manning is 11-0 straight up and 9-2 against the spread as a favorite on "Monday Night Football." Cincinnati needs a win to control its own destiny in the AFC North. While it doesn't need the victory to ensure it stays ahead of Pittsburgh, one loss coupled with two Baltimore wins would put the Bengals into the playoffs as a wild card. Andy Dalton won his last three games outright as a home underdog.

According to ESPN PickCenter, the public is backing Manning and the Broncos at a 71 percent rate.

As always, let's get some insight from the experts in Las Vegas.


Matchup: Denver Broncos at Cincinnati Bengals

The spread: Opened Broncos -3.5; Now Broncos -3
The total: Opened 48.5, Now 47.5


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