Bengals open as early Week 1 favorite over Buccaneers
The Bengals are slight favorites for their 2026 season opener.
CINCINNATI, OH - OCTOBER 28: Tampa Bay Buccaneers Center Ryan Jensen (66) lines up over the ball as Tampa Bay Buccaneers Quarterback Jameis Winston (3) goes through his snap count during the NFL football game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Cincinnati Bengals on October 28, 2018, at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images The Cincinnati Bengals face a challenging and rare matchup to start the 2026 season as they host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Baker Mayfield has a 6-2 career record against Cincinnati, and the team has just a 2-5 record under Zac Taylor in season openers.
Nevertheless, after the official schedule release on Thursday evening, the oddsmakers have the Bengals as early favorites for their “Open in Orange” game against the Bucs. Depending on the source, Cincinnati is listed as a 2. 5-3.
5-point favorite in the opener. FanDuel Sportsbook goes with the higher range, at 3. 5 points in favor of the Bengals.
The old rule of thumb in NFL betting is that the home team is usually a 3-point favorite if the teams are seen as an even matchup. The oddsmakers don’t seem to have much faith in either defense, with an over/under of 51. 5 points, and it suggests the Bengals’ defensive improvements may not be moving the needle nationally.