The Cincinnati Bengals’ playoff lives are on the line when they host the Denver Broncos on Saturday.
The pregame narrative: Cincinnati needs to win out and get some help to make the postseason. The Broncos have been a reliable team ATS and I’ll tease them to a 7.5 underdog alongside prop bets on Bo Nix and Andrei Iosivas.
Check out my Broncos vs. Bengals same-game parlay predictions for Dec. 27.
Broncos vs. Bengals same-game parlay predictions
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Parlay: Broncos +7.5 + Nix over 224.5 passing yards + Iosivas over 27.5 receiving yards (+360)
Broncos +7.5 (-220): The last time Joe Burrow and Bo Nix played each other was in 2019, when the LSU Tigers beat the Auburn Tigers, 23-20.
It’s crazy to think that Burrow is finishing his fifth season while Nix is wrapping up his first but that goes to show Nix isn’t a typical rookie.
The 24-year-old QB has been stellar for Denver over the last six weeks:
- 4-2 record (6-0 ATS vs. +7.5)
- 14 TD, 5 INT
- 98.8 passer rating
Burrow is obviously the better player but Cincinnati’s defence has been a mess all season while Denver’s ranks atop the league in most categories.
The Broncos defence is fourth in scoring (18.7 PPG) and first in RBSDM.com’s EPA per play.
That unit has helped Denver keep nearly every game close. The Broncos are a league-best 11-4 ATS and are 14-1 ATS versus this line.
Other parlay picks
Nix over 224.5 passing yards (-129): Let’s talk a little more about Nix.
The Oregon product was touted as NFL-ready by Sean Payton and Denver’s head coach wasn’t kidding.
Nix attempted 42 passes in his very first game and ranks seventh in passing attempts (507) on the season. That gives him a solid floor for us to work with.
He has gone over 215 passing yards in six of his last eight games, clearing this line five times.
The Bengals’ secondary gives up the seventh-most passing yards per game (231.6) and ranks 20th in EPA per dropback.
Denver doesn’t have a great running game so I expect Nix to be active in keeping pace with Cincinnati.
Iosivas over 26.5 receiving yards (-118): The Bengals might have to lean on Iosivas on Saturday.
Ja’Marr Chase has been the best wideout in football but he will be draped by the best cornerback in football — Patrick Surtain III — who is right in the mix to win the Defensive Player of the Year.
Tee Higgins, who plays Robin to Chase’s Batman, is questionable with a knee injury. If he can go, he won’t be at 100%.
Iosivas has carved out a nice role as the WR3 on Cincinnati.
- Iosivas has played in over 65% of snaps in every game this year.
- The sophomore WR is 5-1 against this line in his last six games.
This line would be attainable even if Higgins was healthy and Surtain wasn’t playing.
Picks made at 10:42 a.m. on 12/27/24.
Avery joined NorthStar Gaming as an intern in 2022 before stepping into a full-time role soon after. He loves betting on and analyzing golf — mainly because it’s easier than actually playing — but is a fan of all sports, from the NFL to the UFC.