Kick off the New Year right with a Monday Night Football parlay

It's the first Bark Bets of 2023, and we've got a must-bet OGP (One-Game Parlay) for the last "Monday Night Football" game of the year. The Bengals and Bills have been two of the best teams in the NFL over the last couple of seasons and this pre-playoff matchup will have a big impact on seeding in the AFC. We're confident that this game will be close and both teams sure can score, so expect both teams to put up some points in this one. Onto the OGP.

The Bengals have won seven straight games, and are arguably the hottest team in the AFC, which is why Cincinnati (+7.5) to lose by no more than a touchdown is our most confident leg. A Cincinnati win puts them in position to secure the AFC North and potentially be the No. 1 seed in the AFC, so don't be surprised if the "underdog" Bengals win this game outright. Joe Burrow always seems to play his best when the stakes are at their highest, and the Bills have plenty of experience coming up short in big games coming down the stretch.

As for the second of our three legs, take Cincinnati to score at least 18 points. The Bengals are third in the AFC and sixth in the league in points per game, and we don't expect that to change on Monday. Cincinnati has scored at least 18 points in seven straight games and nine of their last 10, and even after getting shut out in the second half against New England last week, this is still a solid play.

Ja'Marr Chase is starting to look like his usual self after missing time with a hip injury earlier in the season, and when he's on the field, he's a difference-maker. Losing right tackle La'el Collins for the season certainly hurts, but even without Collins, the Bengals offense should be fine. Cincinnati might even put 18 points in the first half, in what we expect to be a relatively high-scoring game. To that end...

Take the Bills to score at least 18 points too. Buffalo is third in the league in points per game and has scored at least 18 points in every game this season except one. Josh Allen at times may look like a one-man wrecking crew, but he's not. Stefon Diggs is one of the best receivers in the league and Buffalo rushed for over 250 yards last week as the ground game has picked up steam in the 2nd half of the season. 

The Bills offense has gotten off to some slow starts this season, but that's highly unlikely to happen on Monday. It might just take 30 points to win on Monday night, and both teams know their offenses are going to have to show up from the opening kickoff.

And what do you know ... combine all three of these legs into an OGP, and you get even odds. Doubling your money to start the new year — OK, technically the second day of the year — sure sounds good, right? That's right. And that's why this OGP is a must-bet. 

The One-Game Parlay: Cincinnati Bengals (+7.5), Cincinnati Bengals (over 17.5 Points) AND Buffalo Bills over (17.5 Points) (+100 odds via BetMGM)

Bet $100 to win $100

In the news ...

TCU upsets Michigan, Georgia rallies past Ohio State in College Football Playoff semifinals — TCU upset Michigan, 51-45, in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, and undefeated Georgia rallied past Ohio State, 42-41, in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl on New Year's Eve in the College Football Playoff semifinals. The reigning national champion Bulldogs are currently 13.5-point favorites against the Horned Frogs, who play for the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T, next week. 

Brady leads Bucs to NFC South Division title; Giants blow out Colts to secure playoff berth — Tom Brady threw for 432 yards and three scores in a 30-24 win over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday to secure the NFC South Division title for Tampa Bay, while the New York Giants defeated the Indianapolis Colts, 38-10, on Sunday to clinch a playoff berth for the first time since 2016. The 8-8 Bucs are 10/1 favorites to win the NFC while the Giants are 30/1. 

Broncos reach out to Jim Harbaugh about head coaching position — The Denver Broncos reportedly reached out to Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh about the team's head coaching vacancy over the weekend. Harbaugh has won back-to-back Big Ten titles and has led the Wolverines to consecutive appearances in the CFP.

McCall exits transfer portal — Three-time Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year Grayson McCall reportedly withdrew his name from the transfer portal over the weekend and will return to Coastal Carolina next season. McCall has two more years of eligibility and is 28-5 in three seasons as the Chanticleers' starting quarterback. 

Today's Bark Bets is written by Jared Shlensky