Line Moving: Browns line impacted as coach Kevin Stefanski to miss Wild Card game

The Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cleveland Browns AFC Wild Card game spread has moved with the announcement the Browns will be without their head coach Sunday

The Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4) host the Cleveland Browns (11-5) in an AFC Wild Card battle Sunday, but the Browns will be without head coach Kevin Stefanski, among others, due to COVID-19.

Nothing comes easy for the Browns, playing in their first playoff game in 18 years, and now they have to do it without their team leader, per NFL.com.

While the NFL Wild Card game remains on schedule for an 8:15 p.m. ET kickoff at Heinz Field, the Browns will have to move forward with offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt calling plays during the game and special teams coordinator Mike Priefer to serve as the acting head coach.

The Browns are also expected to be without Pro Bowl left guard Joel Bitonio and wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge.

With changes at the top of the Cleveland team, the oddsmakers at BetMGM Sportsbook have already adjusted the line in the Steelers’ favor. Previously they had a 4.5-point spread, which has moved 1.5 points and the Steelers are now a 6-point favorite over the Browns Sunday.

The total (46.5 points) remains unchanged, but the money line has shifted from the Browns at +165 to +200 and the Steelers from -200 to -250.

Place your legal, online NFL bets in CO, IA, IN, NJ, PA, TN and WV at BetMGM. Risk-free first bet! Terms and conditions apply. Bet now!

Updated Browns at Steelers odds, spread and line

Odds via BetMGM; last updated Tuesday at 12:45 p.m. ET. 

  • Money line: Browns +200 (bet $100 to win $200) | Steelers -250 (bet $250 to win $100) | Bet now
  • Against the spread/ATS: Browns +6 (-110) | Steelers -6 (-110) | Bet now
  • Total: 46.5, Over -115 (bet $115 to win $100) | Under -105 (bet $105 to win $100) | Bet now

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NFL Wild Card: Pittsburgh Steelers home favorites vs. Cleveland Browns

The Pittsburgh Steelers are the betting favorites in their NFL Wild Card home game vs the Cleveland Browns.

During NFL Wild Card Weekend, the Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4) host the Cleveland Browns (11-5) Sunday in an AFC Wild Card matchup at 8:15 p.m. ET at Heinz Field. Below, we take a look at the early Browns-Steelers betting odds and lines at BetMGM Sportsbook.

The Steelers dropped a 24-22 game to the Browns in Week 17 at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland. With the AFC North title already locked up, the Steelers rested several starters, including QB Ben Roethlisberger, and still almost pulled off an upset as 10.5-point underdogs. In fact, they were just a 2-point conversion away from tying the game with 1:23 to go. Pittsburgh picked up a 38-7 win as a 3-point home favorite in the first meeting between the two rivals in Week 6 as the Under (50) connected. The Steelers were 7-1 straight-up and 5-3 ATS at Heinz Field this season, including 3-0 SU and 2-1 ATS in three games against divisional opponents. The Steelers are 2-0 vs. the Browns in the postseason, winning 29-9 in an AFC Divisional Round game Jan. 7, 1995, and 36-33 in a Wild Card matchup Jan. 5, 2003, which is the last time the Browns were in the postseason.

If you want to know how long it has been since Cleveland was in the playoffs, QB Kelly Holcomb threw for 429 yards and three touchdowns in that Wild Card loss to the Steelers in 2003. RB Amos Zereoue led the Steelers with 73 yards on the ground, easily outdueling Browns RB William Green, who had 30 yards. WR Kevin Johnson had 140 receiving yards, and WR Dennis Northcutt had 92 yards with 2 touchdowns for the visiting Browns, while WR Hines Ward and WR Plaxico Burress each caught a Steelers TD pass and finished with 104 and 100 receiving yards, respectively. TE Jerame Tuman also found the end zone Pittsburgh. Yeah, it’s been a while for the Browns. Cleveland managed a 5-3 SU road record this season but was just 3-5 ATS away from the shores of Lake Erie. The Browns were 4-4 O/U on the road with the Under going 2-1 in their three AFC North matchups. Cleveland went 2-1 SU and 1-2 ATS in three primetime games, with the Over cashing twice this season.

Browns at Steelers: Betting odds, spread and line

Odds via BetMGM; last updated Monday at 5:33 p.m. ET. 

  • Money line: Browns +165 (bet $100 to win $165) | Steelers -200 (bet $200 to win $100) | Bet now
  • Against the spread/ATS: Browns +4.5 (-110) | Steelers -4.5 (-110) | Bet now
  • Total: 46.5, Over -115 (bet $115 to win $100) | Under -105 (bet $105 to win $100) | Bet now

New to NFL betting?

At +165 odds, the Browns have an implied 37.74% chance of winning, or 33/20 fractional odds. Cleveland needs to win outright, or lose by fewer than 4 points for a Browns +4.5 (-110) ATS ticket to cash.

Place your legal, online NFL bets in CO, IA, IN, NJ, PA, TN and WV at BetMGM. Risk-free first bet! Terms and conditions apply. Bet now!

At -200 odds, the Steelers have an implied 66.67% chance of winning, or 1/2 fractional odds. Pittsburgh needs to win by at least 5 points for a Steelers -4.5 (-110) ticket to cash.

Also see:

Get some action on this NFL game or others by signing up and betting at BetMGM. If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com. Please gamble responsibly.

Follow @JoeWilliams on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

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

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