Cincinnati Bengals 2009 NFL Picks & 2010 Super Bowl Betting Odds: The Cincinnati Bengals are one of the worst franchise’s in the NFL an they continue to add players with troubled pasts. The team has had just one winning season in the past 18 years and has had an astonishing 5 wins or less in 9 of those years. Quarterback Carson Palmer’s rifle right-arm gives the Bengals hope in 2009 as he comes back from injury. Cincinnati Bengals 2009 NFL Picks & 2010 Super Bowl Betting Odds to win the Superbowl has them listed at 75-1 odds at Sportsbetting.com.

Carson Palmer is one of the NFL’s best when healthy, but his durability is now an issue at age 30. One key subtraction that could affect Palmer and the passing game is the departure of super-possession wideout T.J Housmandzadeh.  Speedy WR Laveranues Coles was brought in to replace T.J, but he is not the same caliber receiver. WR Chad Johnson also is a question mark after his stock dropped last year from an All-Pro level player to just an above-average guy. Running back Cedric Benson showed glimpses of why he was a 1st round pick in 2005 but he must show more consistency.  The offensive line is a wreck and could be among the NFL’s worst, making Palmer’s durability even more vulnerable.

The Bengals defense ranked a respectable 19th in points allowed, thanks in large part to smart game planning by defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer. Zimmer’s defense plays hard and smart in the Bengals outdated 4-3 scheme. The problem for ‘Cincy is getting after the QB after registering a paltry 17 sacks last season.  The team has a trio of run-stuffers on the D-Line and some sure tackling linebackers, but still no pass-rush threat heading into 2009. The secondary has a couple of solid cover corners and have added an intimidator in SS Roy Williams. Special teams are only slightly above-average.

Cincinnati is being hailed as a team to keep an eye on by some “experts” in 2009, but they will end up tied with the Browns in the AFC North gutter. The O-Line is built like Swiss cheese and a lack of playmakers on defense make this a recipe for a 5-11 season.