The Browns (+8) are set to host the Kansas City Chiefs (-8) at FirstEnergy Stadium. CBS will broadcast the action and this early afternoon game is scheduled to get underway at 1:00 p.m. ET.
Kansas City Chiefs at Cleveland Browns Betting Preview
Cleveland is entering this AFC game as a noticeable underdog and is currently receiving 8 points. The Chiefs are also receiving -330 moneyline odds while the Browns are +260. Oddsmakers have placed the over/under (O/U) at 52.5 points, and multiple solid live betting possibilities may present themselves during this showdown.
Square bettors are hammering the Browns, as the opening line was 9. The total has yet to change after it was set initially at 52.5.
The surprising Chiefs are 7-1 against the spread (ATS) and have gained 6.9 units so far in 2018. The team has posted an O/U record of 4-4. The Browns have lost 2.8 units this season. The team is 5-3 ATS and also owns an even O/U record of 4-4.
The Chiefs have gone 7-1 straight up (SU) in 2018 while the Browns are 2-5-1 SU.
Cleveland enters this matchup on a zero-game winning streak while Kansas City has lost zero straight. The Chiefs just got a 30-23 victory over Denver in Week 8. Patrick Mahomes completed 24-of-34 passes for 303 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. Kareem Hunt (50 rushing yards on 16 attempts) spearheaded the ground attack in the win. Sammy Watkins (eight receptions, 107 yards, two TDs) and Travis Kelce (six catches, 79 yards, one TD) shared the receiving duties.
Cleveland just fell 33-18 to Pittsburgh in Week 8. The defense let the Steelers eat up the clock by running for 168 yards on 31 rush attempts, including two rush TDs. James Conner was on a different level for Pittsburgh, recording 146 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 24 attempts, along with 66 yards on five catches. For Cleveland, Baker Mayfield completed 22-of-36 passes for 180 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Nick Chubb (65 rushing yards on 18 attempts) spearheaded the ground game in the defeat as Jarvis Landry (eight receptions, 39 yards) and Antonio Callaway (five catches, 36 yards, one TD) led the pass-catching corps.
Looking at offensive play-calling, each team has a strikingly similar (59-41 pass-to-run ratio on the season. The Chiefs have rushed for 115 yards/game and have seven touchdowns via handoffs this year. The Browns are totaling 127 rushing yards per game and have nine total rush TDs.
It seems like the Chiefs ought to have the edge along both the offensive and defensive fronts, as their offensive line has given up only 37 sacks while the D-line logged 31 sacks. The Browns offensive line has given up 50 sacks and their defense has forced only 34 sacks.
The Chiefs offensive scheme has tallied 316 yards per contest through the air overall and has 26 passing scores so far. The Browns have put up 242 pass yards per game and have 10 total pass TDs.
Kansas City has allowed opponents to rush for an average of 128 yards and pass for 324 yards per game. The Cleveland defense has allowed 289.9 yards per game to opposing passers and 138.9 yards per game to opposing runners. The Browns are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 5.37 to opponents, while the Chiefs have given up a 6.48 ANY/A.
Offensively, Mahomes has already put up 2,168 passing yards on the year, and has completed 159-of-246 attempts with 22 passing scores and only five interceptions. He has a pristine 9.23 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 9.27 over the last two games.
Look for a balanced approach offensively from Kansas City in this one. Kareem Hunt, Sammy Watkins and Travis Kelce have collectively accounted for 582 total yards and seven touchdowns over the last couple of outings.
For the home team, Baker Mayfield has completed 107-of-189 passes for 1,256 yards, six TDs and six INTs. Mayfield’s ANY/A stands at a mediocre 4.92 for the season and 4.99 over his past two outings.
Similar to the Chiefs, expect a balanced attack offensively from Cleveland this Sunday. Nick Chubb, Jarvis Landry and Baker Mayfield have combined to account for 343 total yards and two touchdowns as a trio over the last two games.
RELATED: Week 9 NFL Betting Odds and Predictions
NFL Prediction: Kansas City Chiefs vs. Cleveland Browns
SU Winner – Chiefs, ATS Winner – Browns, O/U – Under
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Notes
Betting Trends
The Chiefs offense has created nine pass plays of 40 yards or more, while the Browns have accounted for three such plays.
The Kansas City defense has allowed six pass plays of 40 yards or more, while Cleveland has given up five such plays.
The Kansas City offense has created eight rushing plays of 20 yards or more, while Cleveland has created 10 such runs.
The Chiefs defense has allowed six rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Browns have given up seven such runs.
The Kansas City defensive unit has sacked opposing QBs 24 times this year. Cleveland has registered 20 sacks.
As a team, Kansas City has averaged 5.3 yards per carry across its last three games and 5.3 over its last two.
Cleveland has averaged 4.6 yards per carry over its last three outings and 4.4 over its last two.
Over its last three matchups, Cleveland is 1-2 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
The Over/Under for Kansas City’s previous game going into it was 53.5. The under cashed in the team’s 30-23 win over Denver.
In its last three matchups, Kansas City is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
The O/U for Cleveland’s last game was set at 47.5. The over cashed in the 33-18 loss to Pittsburgh.
Cleveland has lost five of its last six games SU, with a three-point triumph over Baltimore on October 7th representing the only win over that stretch.
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