Cardinals vs Bengals Predictions, Picks & Best Bets for Today's NFL Week 17 Game

Oldfield's prediction: Bengals' offense purrs like a kitten vs. Cards.

Tom Oldfield - Contributor at Covers.com
Tom Oldfield • Betting Analyst
Dec 28, 2025 • 10:24 ET • 4 min read

NFL

Match starts: 1 hrs
CIN
67 %
ARI
33 %
Read Analysis
Arizona Cardinals Cincinnati Bengals NFL
Photo By - Imagn Images. Our Cardinals vs. Bengals prediction for Week 17.

The misery has been mounting for Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals amid a lost season, but my Cardinals vs. Bengals predictions believe they can unleash some frustration on Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals, losers of seven in a row.

The Bengals are 7-point favorites in the NFL odds, with the Over/Under total at a lofty 53.5 as we approach kickoff at 1:00 p.m. ET on FOX.

Check out my free NFL picks for this December 28 clash.

Cardinals vs Bengals prediction

Cardinals vs Bengals Best bet: Bengals -7 (-115)

With extra scrutiny around his mood and future in Cincinnati, Joe Burrow had a field day last weekend against the Miami Dolphins. He racked up 309 passing yards that afternoon with four TDs, and a repeat performance is on the cards on Sunday, given the Arizona Cardinals' defensive flaws.

The Cincinnati Bengals have scored 32+ points in three of their past four contests, and I’ll gladly lay the points here, with the slumping Cards just 1-6 ATS in their last seven games despite some gritty efforts from Jacoby Brissett.

There are also 2026 NFL Draft considerations here for the visitors, who enter with a 3-12 record and could slide further towards the No.1 pick.

Arizona has allowed 40+ points in four of its past seven contests — all losses — and I see Cincy coming out swinging here, with a chance to finish the season on a better note.

The Bengals’ last outing at Paycor Stadium was an embarrassing 24-0 thumping at the hands of the Baltimore Ravens, so they’ve got a point to prove.

Burrow and Co. scored 35 straight points in Week 16 in Miami to dial down the panic level, and there are enough injuries on this Cardinals defense to suggest the hosts — playing with total freedom in a game that means nothing for them — will pull away for another comfortable victory.

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Cardinals vs Bengals same-game parlay

Tee Higgins has put together a 10-touchdown season despite Cincy’s struggles, and I’m picking him for another score on Sunday. He’s found the end zone eight times in his past seven outings, and Burrow trusts the 6’4 receiver to come down with contested catches.

If the Bengals are going to cruise past the 30-point mark again here, Higgins will be a big part of the game plan.

As bleak as things have looked defensively for the hosts, this passing yards prop feels too high for Jacoby Brissett. He was held to 203 yards last time out against the Atlanta Falcons, completing just 16 of his 31 passes, and Marvin Harrison Jr. remains on the injury report for the Cards.

Cardinals vs Bengals SGP

  • Bengals -7
  • Tee Higgins anytime touchdown
  • Jacoby Brissett Under 252.5 passing yards

Our big-ticket SGP: Trey to da House!

Trey McBride has been a rare bright spot for Arizona this season, piling up 109 catches, and he’s the likeliest candidate to score for the visitors.

McBride already has 10 touchdowns to his name, and he’ll be the top target for Brissett in the red zone. 

Cardinals vs Bengals SGP

  • Bengals -7
  • Tee Higgins anytime touchdown
  • Jacoby Brissett Under 252.5 passing yards
  • Trey McBride anytime touchdown

Cardinals vs Bengals odds

  • Spread: Cardinals +7 (-110) | Bengals -7 (-110)
  • Moneyline: Cardinals +290 | Bengals -360
  • Over/Under: Over 53.5 (-110) | Under 53.5 (-110)

Cardinals vs Bengals game predictions

Cardinals vs Bengals moneyline prediction

The Cardinals aren’t showing many signs of life after posting a 1-9 mark in their past 10 games, and it’s hard to see them keeping up with all the Bengals’ offensive weapons. Cincinnati cruised to a comfortable victory in the last meeting between these teams, and Arizona’s injury list makes an upset unlikely here.

Cardinals vs Bengals spread prediction

I’ve already made the case for the Bengals to cover the spread, especially with four of the Cards’ last seven losses coming by 19+ points. Though Cincinnati’s defense has been exposed repeatedly this season, I’m sticking with Burrow to outplay Brissett. The Bengals are 4-1 ATS in their past five contests.

Cardinals vs Bengals Over/Under prediction

Both these squads have trended towards the Over this year. It’s 9-6 for Arizona and 8-6-1 for Cincy. There should be points on the menu here, with the Bengals allowing a league-worst 402.8 yards per game and the Cardinals not far behind. And yet the visitors haven’t scored more than 20 points in any of their last four games.


More NFL picks and odds from Covers


Cardinals vs Bengals trend to know

The Over is 4-1 in the last five meetings between these teams. Find more NFL betting trends for Cardinals vs. Bengals.

How to watch Cardinals vs Bengals

Location Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati, OH
Date Sunday, December 28, 2025
Kickoff 1:00 p.m. ET
TV FOX

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Cardinals vs Bengals weather

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Tom Oldfield - Covers
Betting Analyst

Tom Oldfield’s sports writing journey over the past 20 years has taken him from the Premier League and Champions League to the NFL, NBA, WNBA and MLB, with a wide range of articles and betting previews. Tom has worked closely with London’s Sportsbeat sports news agency as well as (thrillingly!) covering the Toronto Raptors’ 2019 NBA championship run, and he has appeared on BBC World Service and The Back Page podcast.

A graduate of the University of Nottingham in the UK, he is the author of biographies on Cristiano Ronaldo, Rafael Nadal, Gary Neville and Cesc Fabregas, and he co-authors a long-running series of children’s soccer books with his brother, Matt.

As a regular bettor across the top sports leagues, particularly with FanDuel and bet365, he is well versed on all the major markets and the next big game is rarely far from his thoughts. The best betting advice he has received is to monitor multiple sportsbooks to grab the best possible value.

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