The Cincinnati Bengals (4-3) visit the Cleveland Browns (2-5) for an 8:15 p.m. ET kickoff in the Week 8 Monday Night Football game on ESPN. Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook‘s lines around the Bengals vs. Browns odds, and make our expert NFL picks and predictions.
The Bengals offense has started to roll after a slow start, amassing 65 total points over the past 2 games. Cincinnati could hit a speed bump, though, as it lost WR Ja’Marr Chase to a hip injury. While it seems he’ll avoid the reserve/injured list, the dynamic wideout is expected to miss 4-6 weeks.
Bengals QB Joe Burrow is 0-3 in his short career vs. the Browns, including 0-2 during his rookie season of 2020. In just the 2nd game of his career, he lost a 35-30 thriller under the lights in Cleveland on a Thursday night despite throwing for 316 yards and 3 TDs. Five games later, he lost 37-34 in Cincy despite 406 passing yards and 4 TDs (3 passing, 1 rushing). Last season in a 41-16 home loss, he threw for 282 yards with 2 INTs, and he didn’t play at Cleveland in Week 18 as the Bengals already secured their playoff spot.
The Browns have a dismal 2-5 record this season, but 4 of the losses have come by a total of 9 points, including 23-20 at Baltimore in Week 7 as 6.5-point underdogs. Cleveland is 1-3 straight up and against the spread (SU/ATS) in 4 home games, but it won its only prime-time matchup there this season, beating the Pittsburgh Steelers 29-17 in Week 3 on a Thursday night.
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Bengals at Browns odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 2 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Bengals -175 (bet $175 to win $100) | Browns +145 (bet $100 to win $145)
- Against the spread: Bengals -3.5 (-101) | Browns +3.5 (-120)
- Over/Under (O/U): 44.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
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Bengals at Browns key injuries
Bengals
- CB Eli Apple (hamstring) doubtful
- WR Ja’Marr Chase (hip) out
- WR Stanley Morgan (hamstring) out
- DL Josh Tupou (calf) out
Browns
- TE Pharaoh Brown (concussion, neck) questionable
- CB Greg Newsome II (oblique) questionable
- TE David Njoku (ankle) out
- LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (knee) questionable
- OL Wyatt Teller (calf) out
- CB Denzel Ward (concussion) out
- CB Greedy Williams (illness) questionable
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Bengals at Browns picks and predictions
Prediction
Bengals 27, Browns 21
Moneyline
Cincinnati (-175) is a little pricey considering it is on the road. Cleveland (+145) has showed out in prime time, and Burrow has yet to beat the Browns in his career.
However, the Bengals are playing better football on both sides of the ball, especially lately. Browns defensive coordinator Joe Woods is under fire for a reason as the D can’t stop anybody.
PASS and focus on the spread.
Against the spread
Playing BENGALS -3.5 (-101) comes with risks, especially with Cincinnati down one of its biggest vertical playmakers in Chase. However, even without the star wide receiver, it’s Burrow’s time to shine and he and his teammates will get it done under the lights in another excruciating, 1-score loss for the Browns.
Over/Under
OVER 44.5 (-115) is a tad risky, as prime-time games have actually trended to the Under this season. In fact, prime-time Under tickets have cashed at a 65.2% clip, going 15-8 through 23 games this season under the lights, or roughly every 2 out of 3.
Still, Burrow seems to get up for these “Battle of Ohio” tilts, and while he hasn’t won one yet, he has thrown for more than 300 yards in 2 of them.
Plus, the Over is 7-1-1 in the past 9 meetings in this series.
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