Hall of Fame Game: What Bettors Need to Know
By TIM SULLIVAN
Cincinnati Bengals vs. Dallas Cowboys (+2.5, 32.5)
As preseason games go, it usually doesn’t get much better than the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio.
Hear us out.
For starters, it’s live action, some seven months after the Super Bowl champion was crowned. That alone attracts fans and bettors alike, especially when the sports world is suffering through the Dog Days of August.
But, more times than not, the NFL — and nowadays, NBC, which is along for the ride — concocts a decent matchup. Whether it’s public teams, or teams with new, marketable players, the league usually gets it right when scheduling this tilt.
This year? No different. You have the Cowboys, still very much America’s Team, with stars and upside galore after a rare playoff victory. And you have the Bengals, always a decent draw in the Marvin Lewis Era, and now they even have Terrell Owens as the cherry on top.
“It’s a good thing,” Lewis said, “to play in a nationally televised game.”
We — the starving football public — agree, Marvin. So, without further adieu, let’s break down the open of what will be a seven-month marathon.
WILL THE STARS COME OUT?
Yes, but not for long. Let’s face it, the Bengals did not sign Owens to sit him during a period where he must get himself prepared for the long haul.
Plus, with a national audience, and the league, and his former teams — including the one across the sideline — watching, you can bet Owens wants the face time.
“They’ll play some in the first quarter,” Lewis said of the starters. “And then we’ll play most of the other guys.”
Expect the same from the Cowboys, who will quickly iron out some kinks on offense and then allow Tony Romo to wear the fitted baseball cap backwards on the sideline. During practice this week, in fact, Dallas coach Wade Phillips said a perfect scenario might just be “eight plays” for the starters.
“Our first group will play. The number of plays is the key,” he said. “I'd rather not have three three-and-outs. I just want to give them a feel for playing.”
WHO WANTS IT MORE?
Once it becomes garbage time, it comes down to who has more talented reserves, and quite frankly, who wants to win?
Conventional thinking might lean toward the Bengals:
* They’re playing in their home state, and plenty of fans will make the trip.
* They will not have to travel as far as the Cowboys.
* They have to be eager to wipe away the memory of losing at home to the Jets in the Wild-Card Round, 24-14.
“This is our first chance to play against guys in other colored helmets, and the timing is good,” Lewis said. “It’s a good opportunity, and I’ve said this since we decided to take on the game.”
SPEAK OF THE SPREAD
The line opened at Dallas -1, which is not surprising. The Cowboys made it to the Divisional Round — one week longer than Cincinnati did — last year, and clearly have their sights set on bigger things.
It looks like the books that opened an early line on this game got caught by sharp Bengals money and quickly adjusted.
A little T.O. magic — and the fact that the nation is eager to see him paired up with Chad Ochocinco — has given the Bengals a little mojo here as well. Despite a Dallas 58-42 edge in betting percentage (according to Covers Consensus Picks), the line has surprisingly shifted to Cincinnati -3.
FACTS AND TRENDS
The Cowboys are 5-7 against the spread in the preseason under Phillips. The team is also just 1-2 in its first preseason game of the season under Phillips and that cover came in the former defensive coordinator’s first game as Dallas’ head coach.
The over has been a better Cowboy bet under the silver-haired, pudgy coach. Dallas has played over the total in eight of their 12 preseason games under Phillips.
Cowboys blogger Gerry Fraley points out the ‘Boys spent a good portion of their first two weeks in camp practicing their red-zone offense. Could we see Phillips going for it on fourth down if his team is close by the painted grass?
Cincinnati is 12-7-1 ATS in the preseason since 2006 (3-1 in their first game) and 24-22-2 in August under Lewis.
Favorites are 2-1-1 the last four Hall of Fame Games.