Colts vs Bengals - Prediction, Odds & Best Prop Bets - Preseason Preview

Indianapolis Colts vs. Cincinnati Bengals

NFL Preseason Week 3 – Saturday, August 23, 2025 - Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati, OH

Kickoff: 1:00 PM EDT | Watch: NFL+

Betting Odds

Market	Indianapolis Colts	Cincinnati Bengals
Spread	+2.5 (-105)	-2.5 (-115)
Moneyline	+120	-145
Over/Under Total	36.5 (-110)	36.5 (-110)

Team Records

• Colts: 0-2 preseason, losses to Baltimore and Green Bay.

• Bengals: 1-1 preseason, win over Washington and loss to Philadelphia.

Offensive Overview

• Colts:

  • Daniel Jones has averaged 122.5 passing yards without touchdowns, completing just over 53% of his passes with a passer rating of 78.3. No completion has exceeded 25 yards.

  • Ulysses Bentley IV averages 4.4 yards per carry on the ground.

  • The Colts have multiple injured offensive linemen including Blake Freeland and Jack Wilson.

  • They run the ball on 45% of 3rd downs (highest in NFL last season).

• Bengals:

  • Jake Browning has thrown two touchdowns in the preseason, completing about 56% of passes at 5.7 yards per attempt, with one interception.

  • Ja’Marr Chase has caught five passes for 88 yards and one touchdown.

  • The Bengals averaged bottom 10 in rushing yards last season, with a run game that has not yet excelled this preseason.

Defensive Overview

• Colts:

  • The Colts allowed 28 turnovers last season (T-3rd-most in NFL).

  • The defense struggled against top 10 offenses last season (0-4 record).

  • Allowed many big plays and had a low EPA on play-action passes.

• Bengals:

  • Ranked 25th overall in defense last season.

  • Allowed several explosive plays.

Key Trends

• Colts:

  • 0-2 preseason in 2025; covered 1Q spread in 7 of last 8 away preseason games.

  • Winless (0-4) vs. top 10 offenses last season.

• Bengals:

  • 1-1 preseason record.

  • Over has hit in 11 of their last 16 games.

  • 3-1 last season when rushing for 120+ yards.

Weather

• Forecast for game day is mild temperatures in the low-to-mid 80s and light winds under 10 mph, with no rain expected.

Summary & Predictions

Cincinnati is favored at home with a -2.5 spread and is supported by sharper QB play and offensive consistency shown so far this preseason. The Colts have struggled offensively, especially given injuries on their offensive line and a lackluster passing game. The total points line is 36.5, modest for preseason where rotations limit scoring, but Bengals’ history of scoring and Colts’ defensive challenges may make the over a reasonable consideration.

WHO WILL WIN THIS GAME?

• COLTS
• BENGALS

Summary

The Lions hold a slight edge due to stronger backup QB play, defensive reliability on critical downs, and a perfect road ATS record last season. The Texans’ defense remains stout, especially against the pass rush, but offensive inefficiency on the ground is a concern. This matchup should be tightly contested with low scoring in the second half, making the Lions -1.5 and under 35.5 key bets. 

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