Bengals vs. Browns – Syndication Server

Week 16 Rooting Guide: Best outcomes as Ravens eye a top four seed

We’re looking at the Week 16 rooting guide for Baltimore fans as the Ravens look to move up into the top four seeds

The Ravens (9-5) are second in the AFC North and all but guaranteed to make the playoffs regardless of what happens in Week 16. Still, a loss to the Steelers and a Houston Win over Kansas City could send Baltimore sliding to the sixth seed, with a matchup against the Texans looming in Week 17.

Overall, a bad two weeks for Baltimore could put John Harbaugh’s team down as far as the seventh seed and on a collision course with Buffalo in the wild-card round.

There are ways back to the No. 3 or four seed, and that starts with a win over Pittsburgh on Sunday and some help down the stretch.

With Thursday night football quickly approaching, we’re looking at the Week 16 rooting guide for Ravens fans.

Amazon Prime Broncos (9-5) vs. Chargers (8-6)

Both teams are all but guaranteed to make the postseason and could face the Bills or Steelers in the wild-card round. We’re rooting for a Chargers upset, which would lock Baltimore into the fifth spot and put it on a collision course with Houston.

Root for Chargers

NBC, TELEMUNDO, UNIVERSO Texans (9-5) vs. Chiefs (13-1)

Houston would have to fall off the cliff and lose three straight for Indianapolis to take that No. 4 seed as the AFC North winner. Baltimore matches up well with the Texans and the Colts, so a Kansas City win is a positive.

Root for Chiefs

CBS Browns (3-11) vs. Bengals (6-8)

The Bengals (7%) currently have the lowest odds of any team still eligible for the playoffs, but this explosive offense could make noise in the postseason.

Root for Browns

CBS Patriots (3-11) vs. Bills (12-2)

Defeating the Steelers and eventually gaining control of the AFC North could put the Ravens as high as the No. 3 seed. A loss or two by the surging Bills could get Baltimore to as high as the No. 2 seed if they can win out.

Root for New England

Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Sunday’s Browns at Bengals NFL matchup, with NFL betting odds, picks and best bets

The Cleveland Browns (6-9) and host Cincinnati Bengals (1-14) will tangle at Paul Brown Stadium Sunday at 1 p.m. ET (on Fox). We analyze the Browns-Bengals sports betting odds and lines, with NFL betting picks and tips for the Week 17 matchup.

Browns at Bengals: Week 17 preview, betting trends and notes

Get some action on the game at BetMGM by placing a sports bet!

The Bengals wrapped up the No. 1 overall pick in 2020 NFL Draft with their overtime loss last week in Miami.
The Browns topped the Bengals 27-19 in Week 14, covering as 6.5-point favorites as the Over (43) connected.
The Browns are 0-5 against the spread in the past five road outings and 3-7-1 ATS in the past 11 games overall. They’re also 2-5-1 ATS in the past eight as a road favorite, and 1-4 ATS in the past five on the road against a team with a losing home record.
The Bengals are 1-4 ATS in the past five games overall, and 1-4 ATS in the past five inside the division. They’re also 1-5 ATS in the past six against teams with a losing record, and 1-6 ATS in the past seven at home.
The over has connected in four in a row for the Browns against losing teams.
The under is 12-3-1 for the Bengals in the past 16 as an underdog, and 10-4-2 in the past 16 vs. AFC.

Browns at Bengals: Key injuries

Browns: DE Olivier Vernon (knee), WR Odell Beckham Jr. (illness – expected to play) and TE Ricky Seals-Jones (illness) are all listed as questionable.

Bengals: CB William Jackson III (shoulder) has been ruled out for Week 17.

Browns at Bengals: Odds, betting lines and prediction

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Saturday at 2 p.m. ET.

Prediction

Bengals 23, Browns 20

Moneyline (?)

The BENGALS (+125) can’t ruin their chances at the No. 1 overall pick with a win, and they showed last week in a hellacious comeback in Miami that they’re not throwing in the towel. The Browns (-154) have nothing to play for in this one and are primed for the taking.

New to sports betting? A $10 wager on the moneyline returns a $12.50 profit with a Bengals victory.

Against the Spread (?)

The BENGALS (+2.5, +105) are plus-money at home, and therefore a pretty nice value. The Browns (-2.5, -129) haven’t been terribly consistent this season, and they’re especially erratic on the road.

Over/Under (?)

PASS. The 44.5 total is going to be close. If there was a lean, it would be to the under, which is actually 41-14-3 in the past 58 in December for Cleveland and 12-3-1 in Cincinnati’s past 16 as a ‘dog.

Want action on this game? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. Looking for more sports betting picks and tips? Visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1367]

Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Sunday’s Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns Week 14 matchup, with NFL betting odds, picks and best bets

[jwplayer zJQrqHUv]

The Cincinnati Bengals (1-11) and Cleveland Browns (5-7) play the latest installment of their ‘Battle of Ohio’ rivalry Sunday at 1 p.m. ET at FirstEnergy Stadium. We analyze the Bengals-Browns sports betting odds and lines, with NFL betting picks and tips for the Week 14 matchup.

Bengals at Browns: Week 14 preview, betting trends and notes

Get some action on the game at BetMGM by placing a sports bet!

The Bengals enter on a high after their first victory of the season in Week 13, while the Browns suffered a 20-13 loss against the Steelers in Pittsburgh.
Cincinnati is 8-2 ATS across their past 10 road games, and they’re 17-8 ATS in the past 25 games against AFC opponents.
The Browns are 7-3 ATS across their past 10 games inside the AFC North, but they’re just 11-23-1 ATS in the past 35 at home.
The Under is 4-1-1 in Cincinnati’s past six games against the AFC North, while going 12-3-2 in the past 17 games overall.
The Under is 18-8-1 in the past 27 at home for the Browns, while going 15-5-1 in the past 21 at FirstEnergy Stadium against teams with a losing road mark.

Bengals at Browns: Key injuries

Bengals: WR John Ross (collarbone) and LB Nick Vigil (ankle) are expected to play, while DE Sam Hubbard (knee) and TE Drew Sample (ankle) are out.

Browns: TE David Njoku (wrist) and DE Olivier Vernon (knee) are expected to be ready, while QB Baker Mayfield (hand) will also be fine. WR Odell Beckham Jr. (groin) is expected to be ready, too.

Bengals at Browns: Odds, betting lines and prediction

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Saturday at 8 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Browns 23, Bengals 17

Moneyline (?)

The Browns (-334) are just too expensive, and they haven’t been consistent enough this season to lay more than three times your money. The Bengals (+260), on the other hand, have struggled all season obviously, but they looked better with QB Andy Dalton regaining his starting spot against the Jets. They’re no pushover, at least for an inconsistent Browns side.

New to sports betting? A $10 wager on the moneyline returns a $2.99 profit with a Cleveland victory.