Week 9 in the NFL sees Trey McBride and the Arizona Cardinals (1-7) taking on Amari Cooper and the Cleveland Browns (4-3) at Cleveland Browns Stadium in Ohio on Sunday.
This game offers a wide variety of value-added plays across the board for prospective bettors and football fans alike.
Let’s take a deep dive and examine some odds, predictions, best bets, prop bets, and offer up a same-game parlay.
Cardinals vs Browns Odds
NFL odds used for this Arizona vs Cleveland preview were found at DraftKings Sportsbook and are current as of Tuesday, October 31 at 6:30 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline: Browns (-360) • Cardinals (+285)
- Spread: Browns -8 (-110) • Cardinals +8 (-110)
- Total Points: Over 37.5 (-108) • Under 37.5 (-112)
- Implied Score: Browns 22.75, Cardinals 14.75
Cardinals vs Browns Predictions
Score Pick: Browns 21, Cardinals 12
The Browns enter this matchup as heavy eight-point home favorites, facing off against a Cardinals team that owns the worst record in the NFL.
The game total sits at 37.5, meaning oddsmakers and sportsbooks are predicting an uneventful and low-scoring encounter.
With the status of Kyler Murray (knee) still uncertain, and following the trade of Joshua Dobbs to the Minnesota Vikings, Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon will turn to Clayton Tune at quarterback, who is set to make his first career NFL start.
It’s also important to note the current state of the AFC North, where all four teams currently sit above .500.
Simply put, this is a must-win game for the Browns. Look for Cleveland to take care of business against the lowly Cardinals.
Cardinals vs Browns Best Bets & Props
Browns -8 (-110)
DraftKings Sportsbook • WAGER: 1 unit
Our first best bet will target the Browns against the spread.
The first eight weeks of the season have seen the Browns firmly establish themselves as one of the best defensive teams in football, which is one of the major factors for their early success thus far in 2023.
The Browns rank first in football in opponents’ yards per game (260.0) and second in both opponents’ third-down conversions per game (3.7) and opponents’ time of possession percentage (43.54%), per NFL Team Rankings.
Arizona has posted some abysmal numbers thus far this season, specifically in the passing game, ranking 24th in both completion percentage (62.92%) and average team passer rating (81.3).
Given the overall inexperience of the Cardinals at the QB position, combined with Cleveland’s elite defense, there’s no real evidence to suggest the Cardinals cover an eight-point spread.
For those reasons, I have little concern laying eight points on a single-unit wager on the Browns ATS as my NFL bet of the day.
Under 37.5 (-112)
DraftKings Sportsbook • WAGER: 1 unit
Our second best bet will pinpoint the Under on the game total of 37.5 points.
It’s a fairly exploitable number, especially when you take into account both teams’ offensive deficiencies, so take full advantage.
Arizona and Cleveland have struggled to convert on third down in the 2023 campaign, with the Cardinals ranking 18th in third-down conversion percentage (39.81%) and the Browns converting on just 31.07%, which ranks 31st in football, via NFL Team Rankings.
With both teams entering play with uncertainty at the QB position, we could be in store for a rush-heavy, clock-eating afternoon of football in which offensive scores are few and far between.
When you take into consideration both teams’ inability to convert and sustain drives, it seems unlikely this game exceeds 37.5 points.
Take the Under at an enticing (-112) price point.
Cardinals Under 13.5 (-108)
DraftKings Sportsbook • WAGER: 1 unit
Our third and final best bet will target Arizona’s team total in points, for which we’re taking the Under.
With the recent injury to running back James Conner, which has kept him out of the lineup the past few weeks, Emari Demercado has become the clear RB1 in Arizona.
Although the former TCU back rushed for 78 yards on 20 carries during last weeks’ 31-24 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, he’ll be in tough against a stellar Browns defense on Sunday.
From an advanced metrics perspective, Demercado ranks 19th among active running backs in rushing yards over expected (-6) and 20th in rushing percentage over expected (38.8%), per NFL Next Gen Stats.
Given how efficient the Browns have been against the rush this season, ranking seventh in opponents’ rushing yards per game, this is a tough spot on the road for Demercado and the anemic Cards offense.
Take the Under on Arizona’s team total in points.
Cardinals vs Browns Same-Game Parlay
Cardinals vs Browns SGP (+100)
DraftKings Sportsbook • WAGER: 1 unit
- Browns 1H -4.5 (-110)
- Browns (-360)
Our same-game parlay will target the Browns ATS in the first half, combined with them winning outright. Let’s begin with the first-half spread.
Among their many impressive statistics through the first seven games of 2023, the Browns rank first in the NFL in pace of play, averaging 71.7 plays per game, per NFL Team Rankings.
That particular holds significance because it speaks to how Cleveland will want to push the pace early in the game and take a stranglehold in what’s becoming an exploitable matchup against a shorthanded Cardinals team.
I like the favorable number you’re getting here because the Browns won’t trail at any point. Take the Browns to win the first half by a 4.5-point margin.
Rounding out our same-game parlay is the Browns on the moneyline.
Despite playing in one of the toughest divisions in football, and in lieu of the injuries to star running back Nick Chubb and Deshaun Watson, the Browns have played some excellent football and are right in the thick of things in the AFC playoff picture facing a must-win game against an inferior opponent.
Look for the Browns to cruise to victory on Sunday in front of their home crowd.
Combine the two plays at (+100) odds.
