The Cleveland Browns (-7) are set to welcome their AFC North rival Cincinnati Bengals to FirstEnergy Stadium. CBS will televise the action and the opening kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. ET.
Cincinnati Bengals vs. Cleveland Browns Betting Preview
In this Sunday AFC matchup, Cleveland is projected as the favorite and the team’s currently giving up 7 points. The Bengals are also receiving +220 moneyline odds while the Browns are -260. This AFC matchup should provide several decent in-game betting opportunities, and oddsmakers have placed the over/under (O/U) at 45.5 points.
Betting odds have shifted a little from where they were originally posted. The line opened at -7 and the game’s O/U was placed initially at 46.
The Bengals have lost 1.1 units so far and are 7-7 against the spread (ATS). The team has posted an Over-Under record of 9-5. The Browns are up 0.3 units for moneyline bettors this season. They’re 9-5 ATS and have an O/U record of 6-8.
The Bengals are 6-8 straight up (SU), including 1-3 SU against AFC North opponents. The Browns are 6-7-1 SU overall and 2-1 SU versus divisional foes.
The Bengals are trying to keep things going after a solid 30-16 win over Oakland in Week 15. Jeff Driskel completed only 14-of-33 passes for 130 yards, as well as a TD and an interception. Joe Mixon (129 rushing yards on 27 attempts, two TDs) spearheaded the running attack in the win. Tyler Boyd (four receptions, 38 yards, one TD) and Alex Erickson (three catches, 23 yards) handled the receiving duties.
The Cleveland Browns are coming off of a 17-16 win over Denver in Week 15. The defensive secondary allowed the Broncos to air it out for 257 yards. Tim Patrick had a good outing in the defeat, posting 65 yards on five catches for Denver. For Cleveland, Baker Mayfield completed 18-of-31 passes for 188 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Nick Chubb (100 yards on 20 rush attempts) handled the ground attack in the win while Antonio Callaway (five receptions, 35 yards, one TD) and Duke Johnson Jr. (four catches, 25 yards) led the pass-catching corps.
Cincinnati has run the ball on 38.8 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Cleveland has an overall rush percentage of 42.8 percent. The Bengals have run for 104 yards/game (including 87 per game versus North opponents) and have 13 scores via handoffs this year. The Browns are averaging 121 rushing yards per game (112 in conference) and have 15 total rush TDs.
If 2018 results can translate to this game, then the Bengals might have the more disruptive lines up front. Their offensive line has given up just 40 sacks while the D-line registered 41 sacks. The Browns O-line has allowed 50 sacks and their defense has forced only 34 sacks.
The Bengals offensive scheme has averaged 239 yards through the air overall (240 per game against conference opposition) and has 25 passing TDs so far. The Browns have put up 253 pass yards per outing (244.3 in the AFC) and have 23 total pass scores.
Defensively, Cincinnati has allowed 142 rush yards and 282 pass yards per game. The Cleveland defense has allowed 289.9 yards per game to opposing passers and 126.1 yards per game to opposing runners. The Browns are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 5.64 to opponents, while the Bengals have given up a 7.22 ANY/A.
Offensively, Driskel is up to 605 passing yards this season, and has completed 62-of-106 attempts with three scores through the air and two interceptions. Driskel’s got a 4.66 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 4.20 over the last two games.
In the other locker room, Baker Mayfield has completed 242-of-385 passes for 2,827 yards, 20 TDs and 11 INTs. Mayfield’s ANY/A sits at 6.27 for the season and 7.54 across his past two outings.
RELATED: Week 16 NFL Betting Odds and Predictions
Free NFL Tip: Cincinnati Bengals vs. Cleveland Browns
SU Winner – Browns, ATS Winner – Bengals, O/U – Over
Notes
Betting Notes
The O/U for Cincinnati’s last game going into it was 45.5. The over cashed in the team’s 30-16 victory over Oakland.
As a team, Cincinnati has averaged 4.4 yards per carry across its past three contests and 4.3 over its last two.
Cleveland has averaged 4.8 yards per carry over its last three outings and 5.1 over its last two.
Cleveland has lost seven fumbles this season while Cincinnati has lost four.
In its last three matchups, Cincinnati is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
The O/U for Cleveland’s previous matchup was 47.5. The under cashed in that 17-16 victory over Denver.
Over its last three matchups, Cleveland is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in each of those three.
Cleveland has won five of its last six games SU, with a -16-point loss to Houston on December 2nd representing its only defeat over that span.
The Bengals offense has registered one pass play of 40 yards or more, while the Browns have put up five such plays.
The Cincinnati defense has allowed 10 pass plays of 40 or more yards, while Cleveland has given up eight such plays.
The Cincinnati offense has created 13 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Cleveland has created 16 such runs.
The Bengals defense has allowed 13 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Browns have given up 12 such runs.
The Cincinnati D has 33 sacks on the year while Cleveland has 32.
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