Cincinnati Bengals vs. Dallas Cowboys: Picks, Predictions, Odds and Player Props

Week 14 of the 2024 NFL season wraps up with a Monday Night Football clash between the Cincinnati Bengals and Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium in Dallas.

Both teams went into the year with considerable expectations, but neither one – barring a miracle – will be going to the playoffs. Cincinnati is 4-8, while Dallas may have won two in a row but is still two games under .500 at 5-7.

With the game kicking off at 8:15 pm ET on ABC, it’s time to break down the Bengals vs. Cowboys matchup and discuss the best bets to make.  

Cincinnati Bengals vs. Dallas Cowboys betting picks and predictions

Dallas Cowboys +5.5 (-110)

Joe Burrow has played well pretty much from start to finish this season. That’s why the assumption has been week in and week out that Cincinnati would start turning things around. However, 12 games now represents a large enough sample size to make it quite clear that things are not turning in a positive direction.

Burrow has constantly admitted that changes have to be made, but there have been no tangible results in any of those efforts up to this point – mainly on the defensive side of the ball. The Bengals are No. 31 in the league in scoring defense and No. 27 in total defense – the biggest reason why they surprisingly have twice as many losses and wins. 

Dallas certainly isn’t a great team, either, but it has been successful in its own bid to get on track to some extent following a disastrous first half of the season. The Cowboys are coming off two consecutive victories over divisional opponents and have enjoyed a long break – all while staying at home – after beating the New York Giants on Thanksgiving.

Head coach Mike McCarthy’s club has picked up the pace on both sides of the ball in recent weeks and at the very least should be able to keep it close against Cincinnati.

Over 49.5 total points (-110)

The Bengals are almost always worthy of an Over play every time they take the field and this game is no exception. They boast an elite quarterback in Burrow to go along with a horrible defense; that combination alone generally results in high-scoring affairs.

The former Heisman Trophy winner leads the NFL in passing yards per game and his team is fourth in points per play. Burrow and company now face a Dallas defense that is No. 29 in points allowed, No. 30 in yards per pass attempt allowed and No. 28 in yards per rush allowed.

On the bright side for the Cowboys, they should also be able to score. Cooper Rush has plenty of experience filling in for the oft-injured Dak Prescott. Rush can rise to the occasion when called upon, but he also shouldn’t be tasked with doing too much on Monday since Cincinnati is giving up 128 rushing yards per game. 

The Bengals are 9-3 O/U this season and 5-0 O/U in their last five while surpassing the total by an average of 18 points during this five-game stretch. It would be a wise move to back that trend.

CeeDee Lamb anytime touchdown scorer (+150)

Well into plus money, Lamb has great value to score a touchdown on Monday night. The Oklahoma product has a favorable matchup against a Cincinnati defense that is No. 27 in the NFL against the pass and has allowed the fourth-most TDs through the air (22, tied with the New England Patriots and Carolina Panthers).

It is true that Dallas is missing its QB1, but Rush is a capable backup. Moreover, Lamb is averaging a bloated 11.9 targets over the past seven contests.

With that kind of volume, he is going to have opportunities to score. Lamb should be able to capitalize at the expense of a vulnerable Bengals defense.

Read more betting picks and predictions for the NFL on site.

Cincinnati Bengals vs. Dallas Cowboys odds

Cincinnati Bengals	-240 ML
Dallas Cowboys	+195 ML
Spread	CIN -5.5
Total Points	O/U 49.5

Cincinnati Bengals vs. Dallas Cowboys player props

Anytime Touchdown

Chase Brown (CIN Bengals)	-175
Ja'Marr Chase (CIN Bengals)	-163
Tee Higgins (CIN Bengals)	+120
Rico Dowdle (DAL Cowboys)	-105
CeeDee Lamb (DAL Cowboys)	+150
Jake Ferguson (DAL Cowboys)	+260

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.