by Rod Pearson
Tuesday, Dec 17, 2024
Game Time: 1:00 pm ET, Sunday, December 22, 2024
Venue: Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati, OH
Where to Watch: CBS
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Point Spread: Browns +7, Bengals -7; Over/Under: 48 points
Bet365: Point Spread: Browns +7, Bengals -7; Over/Under: 48 points
BetMGM: Point Spread: Browns +7, Bengals -7; Over/Under: 48 points
Season Record
Cleveland Browns: 3-11 (4th place, AFC North)
Cincinnati Bengals: 6-8 (3rd place, AFC North)
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Cleveland Browns: lost their last game at home against the Kansas City Chiefs 21-7.
Cincinnati Bengals: won their last game on the road against the Tennessee Titans 37-27.
Cleveland Browns vs Cincinnati Bengals Preview and Analysis
The Browns are entering this game with a 3-11 record overall and they have a 2-2 record in their divisional games too. They are 2-5 in their home games, 1-6 in their road games, and they are also 0-0 in their neutral site games this season, but they will be on the road for this game. They lost their last game against the Kansas City Chiefs 21-7. Jameis Winston was the starting QB and he completed 16/25 passes for 146 passing yards, 0 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. Jerome Ford led the team in rushing yards with 84 and 1 TD. Jerry Jeudy led the receivers with 108 receiving yards on 11 receptions. Jordan Hicks led the defense in that game with 6 solo tackles and 3 assisted tackles while no one on the defense recorded a sack for them. No one on the defense came away with an interception for them in that one.
The Bengals are entering this game with a 6-8 record overall and they have a 1-3 record in their divisional games too. They are 1-5 in their home games, 5-3 in their road games, and they are also 0-0 in their neutral site games this season, but they will be at home for this game. They won their last game against the Tennessee Titans 37-27. Joe Burrow was the starting QB and he completed 26/37 passes for 271 passing yards, 3 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. Chase Brown led the team in rushing yards with 97 and 1 TD. Ja'Marr Chase led the receivers with 94 receiving yards on 9 receptions. Akeem Davis-Gaither led the defense in that game with 6 solo tackles and 6 assisted tackles while B.J. Hill led the defense in sacks with 1. Cam Taylor-Britt, Mike Hilton, Josh Newton, and Geno Stone each came away with 1 interception for them in that one.
Browns vs Bengals Prediction
The current betting odds have the Bengals listed as a 7 point favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Bengals haven't looked good in their games this season with their 6-8 record overall which has them in 3rd place of the AFC North, but that record still has them alive in this Wild Card race and they are fighting to keep their playoff hopes alive. They have had a really strange season as they have one of the best offenses in the entire NFL, but they also have one of the worst defenses that has been giving up a ton of points all season and holding them back in their games. They are coming off a 37-27 win over the Titans last week and as bad as their defense looked, they were still able to heavily outscore a bad offense in that game and they should be able to do the same here. Meanwhile, the Browns have looked terrible in their games this season with their 3-11 record overall which has them at the bottom of the AFC North with one of the worst records in the NFL. They are coming off a bad home loss to the Chiefs in their last one and the shine with Jameis Winston has now worn off with him being a turnover machine their last few games. They have been putting up a lot of points with him at QB, but he has also been a big liability with the turnovers and this is a Bengals offense that will make them pay for any turnovers. The Bengals already beat the Browns in Cleveland this season by 7 points and now the Browns season is pretty much over while the Bengals are in playoff mode, still fighting to save their season. The best way to place a bet here is on the Bengals to cover the spread in this game.
Browns Bengals Prediction: Our NFL Pick for Sunday, December 22, 2024 (1:00 pm ET start time) is Bengals 34 Browns 20.
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NFL Betting Trends
Cleveland Browns: 6-11 ATS vs. good passing teams averaging 7 or more passing yards/att. 3-9 ATS vs. bad defensive teams who give up 24 or more points/game. 2-8 ATS in games played on turf. 10-5 OVER as a road underdog of 7 points or less. 6-3 OVER after a loss by 14 or more points. 9-3 OVER vs. poor passing defenses - allowing 7 or more passing yards/att.
Cincinnati Bengals: 13-6 ATS as a favorite of 3.5 to 9.5 points. 11-3 ATS after scoring 30 points or more last game. 12-2 ATS when playing against a team with a losing record. 13-7 OVER as a home favorite. 10-5 OVER in a home game where the total is between 42.5 and 49 points. 7-3 OVER vs. bad defensive teams who give up 24 or more points/game.
Key Injuries
Cleveland Browns: K. Hudson (OLB) Questionable - Abdomen. D. Njoku (TE) Questionable - Hamstring. C. Tillman (WR) Out - Concussion. W. Teller (G) Injured - Glute. J. Thrash (WR) Injured - Shoulder. J. Bitonio (G) Questionable - Back. M. Diabate (LB) Injured - Glute. M. Emerson (CB) Injured - Shin. J. Hicks (LB) Injured - Calf. S. Kamara (DE) Injured - Concussion. J. Jeudy (WR) Injured - Knee. M. Ford (CB) Injured - Concussion. M. Garrett (DE) Injured - Personal. M. Hall (DT) Questionable - Knee. M. Harden (CB) Questionable - Tibia.
Cincinnati Bengals: B. Hill (DT) Injured - NIR - Rest. J. Ossai (DE) Injured - Elbow. T. Hendrickson (DE) Injured - NIR - Rest. J. Tufele (DT) Injured - Wrist. S. Rankins (DT) Out - Illness. O. Brown (OT) Out - Fibula. C. Jones (WR) Questionable - Groin. J. Bachie (LB) Out - Groin. J. Burrow (QB) Injured - Wrist. T. Higgins (WR) Injured - Rest. A. Mims (OT) Injured - Rest.
Notable Quotes
“You can not turn the ball over six times and expect to win. At any level.” - Kevin Stefanski after his team’s loss against the Chiefs in their last game.
“We know the chances are very slim. What I’m focused on right now is playing as good as we can play myself, playing up to my standard. That’s why I was so frustrated because I didn’t feel like we did that today.” - Joe Burrow after their win against the Titans in their last game.
Starting Lineups
Cleveland Browns
WR Woods II, Michael
WR Moore, Elijah
WR Jeudy, Jerry
TE Akins, Jordan
QB Winston, Jameis
RB Ford, Jerome
Cincinnati Bengals
WR Chase, Ja'Marr
WR Higgins, Tee
WR Iosivas, Andrei
TE Gesicki, Mike
QB Burrow, Joe
RB Brown, Chase
Statistical Leaders
Cleveland Browns
Passing: J. Winston (2121)
Rushing: J. Ford (451)
Receiving: J. Jeudy (1052)
Touchdowns: D. Njoku (5)
Cincinnati Bengals
Passing: J. Burrow (3977)
Rushing: C. Brown (832)
Receiving: J. Chase (1413)
Touchdowns: J. Chase (15)
Coaches:
Cleveland Browns: Kevin Stefanski (5th season)
Cincinnati Bengals: Zac Taylor (6th season)
Rod Pearson
About the Author:
Rod Pearson has been a rabid sports fan his entire life. He grew up in Ontario, and was skilled in both hockey and baseball, and pitched in an elite baseball league for many years. In 2022, Rod decided to hang up his glove, so that he could write about the sports he loves -- but from a gambling perspective. Join Rod every day as he breaks down the games to find the best betting value.
