- San Francisco (5-2) is a 5.5-point home favorite over the Bengals (3-3) in Week 8 of the NFL season
- Joe Burrow’s injured calf should be fully healthy following Cincinnati’s bye week
- Sunday’s game kicks off from Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, CA at 4:25pm ET
“The NFL will humble you every step of the way,” said Joey Bosa following San Francisco’s 22-17 loss to Minnesota on Monday Night Football. Creating “will they go undefeated?” chatter just a couple weeks ago, the 49ers are coming off consecutive defeats to the Vikings and Browns.
On Sunday afternoon, they’ll face a rested Bengals team coming off a week 7 bye. Before we check the odds on this matchup, here’s where you can find the best Super Bowl betting tips and the top betting sites for NFL football in 2023.
49ers vs Bengals
Brock falls back down to earth
Two weeks ago, Brock Purdy was a perfect 10-0 as a starter and the 2023 NFL MVP frontrunner after passing for nine touchdowns and no interceptions in the season’s first five weeks. San Francisco’s sophomore quarterback has since tossed three picks, including two in the second half of the 22-15 loss to Minnesota.
The good news is that Christian McCaffrey appeared fully healthy on Monday night after leaving the previous outing with an oblique injury. Run CMC set a new NFL record in week 7, scoring a scrimmage TD in his 16th consecutive game. So, while the Niners will likely be without Deebo Samuel and left tackle Trent Williams on Sunday, the centerpiece of their offense remains.
“I knew what [Brock Purdy] was to begin with. … When the defense can’t be perfect … and they ask Brock Purdy to deliver us, he didn’t. … If Brock Purdy is elite, we need another definition for Patrick Mahomes.”
—@ShannonSharpe pic.twitter.com/gqRsAomCgJ
— First Take (@FirstTake) October 24, 2023
Bengals survive early injuries
Cincinnati won two-straight against the Cardinals and Seahawks to get into their bye week with a 3-3 record. Joe Burrow’s strained calf should now be close to 100%. But, it still won’t be easy to win the AFC North or even make the playoffs. Their upcoming schedule includes the 49ers, Bills, Jaguars and Chiefs, along with tough divisional matchups.
A victory over the 49ers would give the Bengals a clean sweep of the NFC West this season. In the last meeting between these two clubs back in December 2021, Burrow passed for 348 yards and 2 TDs, but Kyle Shanahan’s club came away with a 26-23 road win.
San Francisco vs Cincinnati
San Francisco is a 5.5-point home chalk at Levi’s Stadium, where they’re 3-0 on the season. The over/under is set at 45 points, which seems low considering that the Niners are averaging 35.7 per game at home.
Cincinnati also has the league’s fourth-worst run D, allowing 142.8 rushing yards per contest. While their passing defense hovers just outside the top-ten, Lou Anarumo will have to scheme up a way to stop McCaffrey on Sunday.
Christian McCaffrey: First player in NFL history to have a TD in 16 straight games. pic.twitter.com/iCj7aTzoyY
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 24, 2023
Will the Niners D rebound?
Steve Wilks’ unit was lit up by Kirk Cousins and the Vikings in week 7, allowing 378 passing yards. Overall, SF is much stronger against the run and is allowing the third-fewest points per game (15.6) in the league. While the Bengals have scored the fifth-fewest points per week (16.7), those numbers are skewed by Burrow’s early-season injury.
Ja’Marr Chase and a healthy Tee Higgins could be set up to feast on a Niners secondary that was lit up by rookie Jordan Addison for 123 yards and 2 TDs on Monday Night Football.
Best Bet
With two popular preseason Super Bowl picks going head to head, 49ers vs Bengals is the game of the week as both sides should play with desperation.
Given the quarterback edge (Burrow vs Purdy) and the rest advantage (14 days vs 6 days), we like Cincinnati (+210) to upset San Francisco at home on Sunday with the OVER 45 points.
See below the top sportsbooks where you can wager online and choose the best one for you:
