Monday Night Football odds, line, spread: Commanders vs. Bengals picks, predictions by NFL expert who is 30-13

After two close setbacks to open the season, the Cincinnati Bengals will try to get into the win column when they battle the Washington Commanders as part of a Monday Night Football doubleheader. For the third year in a row, Cincinnati has lost its first two games. Washington, meanwhile, will be looking for its second win of the season, reaching half of its victory total from a year ago in just Week 3. The teams are 5-5-1 against one another since their series began in 1970. 

Kickoff from Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati is set for 8:15 p.m. ET. Cincinnati is a 7.5-point favorite in the latest Commanders vs. Bengals odds, while the over/under for total points scored is 46.5. Before making any Bengals vs. Commanders picks or predictions, you need to see what proven SportsLine NFL expert Larry Hartstein has to say, given his mastery of picks involving the Commanders.

A former lead writer for Covers and The Linemakers, Hartstein combines a vast network of Vegas sources with an analytical approach he honed while working for Pro Football Focus. Hartstein tied for 52nd place (out of 1,598 entries) in the 2022 Westgate Las Vegas SuperContest, going 53-34-3 ATS. Larry’s weekly Vegas contest selections form the basis of his NFL best bets column, which is 79-48-2 (62.2%, +25.95 units) since its inception in 2022. Entering the 2024 season, Hartstein is 739-599 all-time on NFL sides and props (plus $4,860 for $100 players, every bet 1 unit) at SportsLine, including 547-452 ATS (55% long-term). 

In addition, Hartstein has gone an incredible 30-13-1 on his last 44 NFL picks involving the Commanders, returning $1,546. Anyone who has followed him is way up.

Now, Hartstein has locked in on Commanders vs. Bengals from every angle and just locked in his picks and predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see his picks. Here are several NFL odds on the spread, over/under and money line for NFL betting on Commanders vs. Bengals: 

• Commanders vs. Bengals spread: Cincinnati -7.5
• Commanders vs. Bengals over/under: 46.5 points
• Commanders vs. Bengals money line: Washington +283, Cincinnati -357
• WAS: Commanders have covered the third-quarter spread in 12 of their last 17 games (+6.95 units)
• CIN: Bengals have scored first in five of their last six games at home (+3.95 units)
• Commanders vs. Bengals picks: See picks at SportsLine 

Why the Bengals can cover

Wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase continues to be among the best receivers in the NFL. He will look for his fourth game in a row with four-plus catches. He has 1,441 receiving yards (102.9 per game) and 14 receiving touchdowns in 14 career games against an NFC opponent. He has 23 catches for 290 yards (145 per game) and a receiving touchdown in two career games on Monday Night Football.

Defensive end Trey Hendrickson has been a bright spot on the Bengals’ defense. He led Cincinnati with two sacks last week, his 11th game with two or more sacks since 2020, tied for the second-most in the NFL over that span. He has a half-sack or more in 10 of his past 11 games, and has 8.5 sacks in seven career games on Monday Night Football, with half a sack or more in each game. Hendrickson has six solo tackles on the season. See which team to back here.

Why the Commanders can cover

Running back Austin Ekeler is off to a fast start to his season. He is the Commanders’ leading receiver with seven catches for 99 yards (14.1 average), with two explosive plays, including a long of 27 yards. He also has carried 10 times for 48 yards. He is in his first season with Washington after spending his first seven seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers. He has 1,000 carries for 4,403 yards and 39 touchdowns in his career.

Linebacker Bobby Wagner is also in his first season with Washington. He leads the Commanders in tackles with 19, including 10 solo, with four tackles for loss. He has also broken up one pass. He is in his 13th season in the NFL. In 187 career games, he has 1,725 tackles, including 1,006 solo, with 33 sacks, six forced fumbles, 10 fumble recoveries, 69 pass breakups and 13 interceptions. See which team to pick here.

How to make Commanders vs. Bengals picks

Hatstein has analyzed Commanders vs. Bengals from every possible angle and while we can tell you he’s leaning Over the point total, he has also discovered a critical X-factor that has him jumping all over one side of the spread. He’s sharing what it is, and which side to back, only at SportsLine.

Who wins Bengals vs. Commanders on Monday Night Football, and which critical X-factor makes one side of the spread a must-back? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Bengals vs. Commanders spread to back, all from the expert who is an incredible 30-13 on picks involving Washington, and find out.