The Cincinnati Bengals sit on top of the AFC North and have two fewer losses than the Houston Texans, yet the game is a push among oddsmakers and is a toss-up for NFL experts. Chalk it up to home field advantage and J.J. Watt.
Bengals vs. Texans 2014 picks and predictions: Experts torn on favorite
The experts are having a tough time forming a consensus.
Houston had lost three of its previous four games before charging into Cleveland last week and pummeling the surging Browns for a 23-7 win. That victory included another touchdown from Watt (his fourth of the season), who is making a strong case to be the first defender to win the NFL MVP award since Lawrence Taylor in 1986. He's the key piece in a defense that's allowing an eighth-best 20.4 points per game.
That defense will be put to the test by a Cincy offense that bounced back from a disastrous Week 10 in Cleveland to hang 27 on the Saints in a win in New Orleans last Sunday. After a historically poor outing against the Browns, quarterback Andy Dalton tossed three touchdowns and rookie running back Jeremy Hill scampered for 152 yards. The Bengals also benefit from the expected return of starting running back Giovani Bernard, who has sat out the last three games with collarbone and hip injuries.
There is no general consensus among experts on who will win. ESPN is giving an ever-so-narrow edge to the Bengals, with seven of its 13 experts picking Cincy. The CBS Sports panel is a little more decided, with six of eight picking the Bengals. But four of six at Fox Sports are going with the Texans.
Houston is the favorite here at SB Nation, as well, with six of our pickers taking the Texans.
| Ryan Van Bibber | Stephen White | Joel Thorman | David Fucillo | Danny Kelly | PFT Commenter | Matt Ufford | OddShark Computer | |
| CIN vs HOU | HOU | HOU | CIN | HOU | CIN | HOU | HOU | HOU |
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