The San Francisco 49ers hope to remain undefeated when they travel to FirstEnergy Stadium to take on the Cleveland Browns.
Cleveland will host Brock Purdy and the 49ers in its first action since a Week 5 bye. The Browns could still be without starting quarterback Deshaun Watson, who was forced to miss their last game with a right shoulder contusion.
The Super Bowl–favorite 49ers are coming off a dominant victory over the Dallas Cowboys. San Francisco has undoubtedly been the best team in the league through five weeks and could be in for another big victory should Watson not play.
Let’s get into our 49ers vs Browns predictions and best bets for this Week 6 intraconference showdown.
49ers vs Browns Odds
NFL odds used for this San Francisco vs Cleveland preview were found at DraftKings Sportsbook and are current as of October 10th at 6 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline: 49ers (-225) • Browns (+185)
- Spread: 49ers -5.5 (-108) • Browns +5.5 (-112)
- Total Points: Over 37.5 (-112) • Under 37.5 (-108)
- Implied Score: 49ers 21.25, Browns 16.25
49ers vs Browns Predictions
Score Pick: 49ers 27, Browns 17
This Week 6 matchup features two of the premier defenses in the league this season. Cleveland stands as the lone squad holding opponents to less than 200 yards per game. The 49ers have given up the third-lowest average yards themselves, but their total exceeds that of the Browns by more than 60.
This game figures to start slowly and pick up as the offenses gain traction. Both squads have disruptors on the defensive side of the ball, so finding a rhythm on offense won’t be easy. There’s no denying, however, that San Francisco is miles ahead when it comes to offensive talent.
All-pro running back Christian McCaffrey has looked like RB1 all season, with eight touchdowns in just five games. He’s one of many skill players shining in Kyle Shanahan’s offense and a big reason to feel confident when backing the 49ers in this game.
Things will be exponentially harder for the Browns offensively if their $230 million man is unable to suit up for this one. The offense was abysmal with rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson under center last week. Head coach Kevin Stefanski has already confirmed that third-string quarterback PJ Walker will get the start should Watson be unavailable.
No matter which of the three QBs plays in this game, taking care of the football will be critical. All three have shown problems with accuracy, which doesn’t bode well against the defense with the most interceptions in the league this season.
49ers vs Browns Best Bets & Props
49ers -5.5 (-110)
DraftKings Sportsbook • WAGER: 2 units
A spread of less than a touchdown for one of two undefeated teams seems oddly low. Although the 49ers have been able to score on some of the better defenses in the league, oddsmakers seem to believe this game will be different.
While Cleveland’s defense does deserve some respect for how good it has been this season, the 49ers have proven week in and week out that they will put up points no matter which team lines up across from them.
San Francisco’s defense can also set up the offense with great field position via turnovers. This was key during Baltimore’s 28-3 victory over the Browns two weeks ago.
These teams are simply on different levels, and for that reason, the 49ers -5.5 is my NFL bet of the day.
Over 37.5 (-108)
DraftKings Sportsbook • WAGER: 1.5 units
We’ve already made several mentions of how good these defenses are. The teams rank first and second in fewest points allowed this season.
Even so, a total of 37.5 seems extremely low when one of the teams has scored 30 or more in each of its five games. The 49ers will likely have to carry the scoring load, but that shouldn’t be a problem based on how the offense has been clicking lately. Shanahan’s squad just put up 42 points against a highly rated Cowboys defense.
1H Under 19.5 (-112)
DraftKings Sportsbook • WAGER: 1 unit
Taking the under in the first half is a risky play that could pay nicely should this game follow the trend I believe it will. A lot depends on the aforementioned strong defenses, but with how good they are, it’s a real possibility.
The 49ers alone have stayed under 19.5 in the first half only twice. But the Browns have allowed more than this total in a half just once all season. More importantly, they have two games where they allowed three or fewer points in the first half.
All of these stats could fly out the window once this game is underway. The Browns’ defense hasn’t seen an offense as good as the one the 49ers have, and the same goes vice versa. But based on what we’ve seen, this bet is worth considering.
49ers vs Browns Same Game Parlay
49ers vs Browns SGP (+600)
DraftKings Sportsbook • WAGER: 1 unit
- 49ers -5.5 (-110)
- Over 37.5 (-112)
- Browns Over 16.5 (+102)
Utilizing the Same Game Parlay option from DraftKings provides great odds when pairing two of our best bets with the over on Cleveland’s total of 16.5 points.
Staying light on this play will be important, as we don’t yet know who the Browns will start at quarterback. If Watson is a go, Cleveland’s chances of scoring 17 or more obviously increase. The Browns have surpassed this total in three of four games and in every one that Waston has played this season.
If this game follows the trends mentioned, this SGP likely cashes.
