The Houston Texans (2-6) and Cleveland Browns (5-3) meet Sunday for a 1 p.m. ET kickoff at FirstEnergy Stadium. Below, we preview the Texans-Browns betting odds and lines and make our NFL picks and predictions.
Texans at Browns: Betting odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Saturday at 7:30 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Texans +170 (bet $100 to win $170) | Browns -200 (bet $200 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Texans +4 (-110) | Browns -4 (-110)
- Over/Under: 45.5 (O: -115 | U: -106)
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Texans at Browns: Game notes
- The Texans returned from a bye and narrowly escaped another disappointing loss, edging the Jaguars 27-25 last Sunday as seven-point favorites at home. Offense hasn’t been the problem, as Houston is averaging 27.2 PPG across the past five outings, 3.1 PPG more than its season average.
- Texans QB Deshaun Watson has accumulated 2,376 passing yards through eight games, and Houston has managed 280.8 yards per game through the air to rank sixth in the NFL. They brought over RB David Johnson to bolster the run game, but they are 31st in the league with just 87.6 yards per game on the ground.
- The last time we saw the Browns was Nov. 1, a 16-6 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders during an occasional wintry mix with windy conditions on the shores of Lake Erie. The Browns are just 1-2 SU/0-3 ATS across the past three outings, and they’re just 1-5-1 ATS in the past seven coming off a bye week.
- Former Browns head coach Romeo Crennel is now the interim head coach for the Texans, and RB Duke Johnson, a former Browns backfield member, is expected to make a start.
- The Texans have won just twice in eight games overall, and they have covered just once, a 30-14 win in Houston as 6.5-point favorites back in Week 5.
Texans at Browns: Key injuries
Texans
- RB David Johnson (concussion) out
- OG Senio Kelemete (concussion) out
Browns
- LB Jacob Phillips (knee) questionable
Texans at Browns: Odds, betting lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Texans 30, Browns 27
Money line (?)
The TEXANS (+170) have a few things going in their favor despite the disparity in the standings. Crennel will have his troops fired up against a team he used to coach, and Duke Johnson will be running with a purpose when he gets his chance, as he requested a trade from the Browns after being behind RBs Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt on the depth chart. He is going to want to show the team what they could have had. Plus, this is just the type of team the Browns (-200) have overlooked over the years, and Cleveland cannot afford to take anybody lightly. Houston is a good value here.
Against the spread (?)
If you’re not feeling the TEXANS +4 (-110) on the money line, at least take them with the points. Yes, they have covered just once in eight tries, and their defense has been a sieve. But the Browns are 1-5-1 ATS in the past seven after a bye, and just 2-5 ATS in the past seven as a favorite. Plus, Cleveland ranks 24th against the pass, yielding 264.6 yards per game through the air, and that’s what Houston does best.
Over/Under (?)
OVER 45.5 (-110) is a good bet. The Browns yielding 29.6 PPG, and the Texans cough up 30.3 PPG, both well in the bottom third of the league. This one has the potential to be quite a shootout.
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