The Cleveland Browns (5-7) make the short trip to Cincinnati to pay a visit to their in-state rival, the Bengals (8-4), for a Week 14 AFC North clash on Sunday afternoon at Paycor Stadium.
Each team comes off a noteworthy Week 13 win. Cleveland recorded a 27-14 victory over the Houston Texans, a game that marked Deshaun Watson‘s regular-season team debut in the city where he played the first four seasons of his career.
Meanwhile, Cincinnati bested the visiting Kansas City Chiefs, 27-24, in a contest that saw star receiver Ja’Marr Chase return from injury and put up a 97-yard performance.
Without further delay, let’s explore our Cleveland vs Cincinnati best bets, predictions and betting tips.
Browns vs Bengals Odds
The Bengals are six-point home favorites on Tuesday afternoon at Caesars Sportsbook. This isn’t surprising considering Cincinnati’s 4-1 home mark and four consecutive victories, nor is it unexpected due to Cleveland’s 2-4 road record and Watson looking like he still has plenty of rust to knock off after his extended layoff.
Take a look at the best Browns odds and Bengals odds for the 2022 NFL season.
Browns vs Bengals Implied Totals
Bengals 26.5, Browns 20.5
Oddsmakers have Cincinnati defeating Cleveland by almost a touchdown. It appears they believe the Bengals will be able to exploit he Browns’ inconsistent defense, even if Cincy isn’t at full health.
Browns vs Bengals Pick of the Day
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Browns vs Bengals Prediction
Bengals 28, Browns 20
The defending AFC champion Bengals opened the season in worrisome fashion, but their play over the last month is beginning to resemble that of late last season, when Cincinnati caught fire all the way to a Super Bowl berth.
Joe Burrow is unsurprisingly leading the way with his stellar play, having thrown for 2,130 yards with a 16:3 TD:INT while rushing for 139 yards and four scores on the ground in his last seven games.
Making those numbers all the more impressive is the fact Burrow accomplished a chunk of them without the services of Chase, whose aforementioned Week 13 return marked the end of a four-game absence due to a hip injury.
With Chase looking fully healthy while playing 53 snaps against the Chiefs, and both Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd also making key contributions, the air attack is in fine shape.
Joe Mixon is naturally also a key component of Cincy’s success, but has missed the last two games while in concussion protocol. However, the veteran running back should have enough time to gain clearance ahead of this matchup.
In a worst-case scenario, the Bengals also have an excellent insurance policy in Samaje Perine, who’s rushed for 164 yards and a touchdown on 38 carries while adding a 10-84 line through the air as the starter the past two games.
On the other side, Watson gets a big step up in competition after what was supposed to be a soft landing against the Texans, and he naturally still has plenty of work to do to establish full chemistry with the likes of Amari Cooper and Donovan Peoples-Jones.
A tough Bengals defense that plays very well at home and can also slow down Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt will make it a tough afternoon for the Cleveland offense as a whole, leading to a relatively strong win for the hosts.
Browns vs Bengals Bet Tips
Here are a few Browns vs Bengals betting trends to consider before making your bets:
- The Browns are 6-6 against the spread, including 3-2 as a road team and 3-0 in division games.
- The Bengals are 9-3 ATS, including 4-1 as a home team and 2-2 in games against AFC North foes.
- The Over is 7-4-1 in Cleveland’s games, but 2-3 in its road contests.
- The Over is 4-7-1 in Cincinnati’s games, including 2-3 in its home games.
- The Browns are just 5-11 ATS in AFC North games since Kevin Stefanski began his head coaching tenure in 2020, while the Bengals are 12-9-1 ATS in division games since Zac Taylor became head coach in 2019.
Browns vs Bengals Best Bets
Bengals -6 (-110) at Caesars Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
The Bengals have been excellent ATS all season and have forged a 13.5-point average margin of victory at home. While the Browns will give their division rivals a battle for a half-plus, Cincy’s plethora of weapons will allow Taylor’s squad to win with a comfortable margin that covers the number.
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Bengals -2.5 2H Spread (-115) at Caesars Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
As already mentioned, the Bengals should be able to exert their will as this game progresses, especially if Mixon is active. The Browns’ Watson had enough trouble with a Texans defense that afforded him the luxury of balance in Week 13, and Cincinnati figures to offer much more resistance.
Additionally, it’s worth noting the Bengals are allowing just 8.2 points per second half of home games, while the Browns concede an AFC-high 14.8 points per second half on the road.
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Browns vs Bengals Props
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