Bengals fans undoubtedly let out a sigh of relief after a one-point victory over AFC North rival Cleveland.

While Cincinnati is still far away from its late season play in 2024, which resulted in five consecutive wins to close out the campaign, a win is a win in the NFL.

Now, the Bengals (-180) host Jacksonville (+158), entering the matchup as 3.5-point spread home favorites.

Additionally, the total line indicates a high-scoring game, with the over/under resting at 49 points.

If you’re curious about our Jaguars vs. Bengals predictions, picks, and best bets for Week 2, keep reading for our analysis and the best Ohio sportsbooks to place them below.

Jaguars vs. Bengals Predictions and best betsUnder 49 points: -110 at CaesarsTravis Etienne Jr over 57.5 rushing yards: -115 at DraftKings

*Note: Odds are based on the best value our experts find as of publication; check lines closer to game time to ensure you get the best odds.

Under 49 points

As has been the case for the last handful of seasons, the Cincinnati Bengals have struggled out of the gate, barely beating a Cleveland Browns team that won just three games in 2024.

The Bengals were able to squeak out a one-point road victory, but their offense was held to 17 points and 141 total yards; they only scored three points in the second half.

Before last week’s narrow win over Cleveland, the Bengals had won just one of their past nine Week 1 and 2 games.

During that span, Cincinnati averaged an abysmal 18.6 points per game, an unacceptable mark for such a competitive football team.

Additionally, Jacksonville’s offense was the ninth-lowest-graded (PFF) unit league-wide last season.

In short, we should see another low-scoring game here.

Travis Etienne Jr over 57.5 rushing yards

If it weren’t clear after the Jags’ first game, Travis Etienne Jr will be the lead back for the remainder of this season.

Shortly after their Week 1 win over the Panthers, Jacksonville traded Tank Bigsby, who was expected to split carries with Etienne in 2025, to the Philadelphia Eagles.

In Week 1, Etienne ran 16 times for 143 yards, including a 71-yard sprint in the second quarter; he slaughtered this line (57.5) before halftime.

After two consecutive 1,000+ yard campaigns to begin his career, Etienne stumbled in 2024 and looked like a much different player.

However, Etienne appears to be back to his shifty, slippery ways, and will be facing a Bengals defense that ranked 19th in opponent rushing yards per game and 16th in opponent rushing yards per attempt last year.

Jaguars vs. Bengals moneyline odds analysisWhy Bengals could win as the favorite

Best odds: -180 at FanDuel

The Bengals have Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, Chase Brown, Mike Gesicki, and Tee Higgins on the offensive side of the ball. That’s it; that is usually the only reason that anyone needs to back Cincinnati on any given week.

Unfortunately, Cincinnati’s recent history in Week 2s has been suspect; the Bengals have dropped five consecutive Week 2 games.

And last week’s narrow win over a bottom-of-the-barrel Cleveland team did not do much to alleviate concerns about their tendency to start seasons slowly.

Still, this is one of the best offenses in the league, and they are playing Jacksonville, which was a fringe bottom-five defense in the league in 2024.

Why Jaguars could win as the underdog

Best odds: +158 at Caesars

For unknown reasons, Week 2 games have been the Bengals’ Kryptonite for the past handful of seasons.

While that alone won’t be enough to beat the Bengals on their home field, improved defensive play will be a strong start.

Jacksonville’s defense forced three turnovers last week, which isn’t something to call home about when playing against a team like Carolina.

Still, it is a positive step in the right direction for a defense that did not force many turnovers in 2024.

Offensively, it will be up to Etienne and Trevor Lawrence to make enough plays to keep this game close, and that shouldn’t be too hard against a suspect Bengals defense.

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.