by Rod Pearson
Tuesday, Jan 02, 2024
Game Time: 1:00 pm ET, Sunday, January 7, 2024
Venue: Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati, OH
Where to Watch: CBS
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Point Spread: Browns +5, Bengals -5; Over/Under: 38.5 points
Bet365: Point Spread: Browns +5.5, Bengals -5.5; Over/Under: 39 points
BetMGM: Point Spread: Browns +5.5, Bengals -5.5; Over/Under: 39 points
Season Record
Cleveland Browns: 11-5 (2nd place, AFC North)
Cincinnati Bengals: 8-8 (4th place, AFC North)
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Cleveland Browns: won their last game at home against the New York Jets 37-20.
Cincinnati Bengals: lost their last game on the road against the Kansas City Chiefs 25-17.
Cleveland Browns vs Cincinnati Bengals Preview and Analysis
The Browns are entering this game with an 11-5 record overall and they have a 3-2 record in their divisional games too. They are 8-1 in their home games, 3-4 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 won their last game against the New York Jets 37-20. Joe Flacco was the starting QB and he completed 19/29 passes for 309 passing yards, 3 touchdowns, and 1 interception. Jerome Ford led the team in rushing yards with 64. David Njoku led the receivers with 134 receiving yards on 6 receptions. Sione Takitaki led the defense in that game with 11 solo tackles and 5 assisted tackles while Myles Garrett and Alex Wright each led the defense in sacks with 1. Ronnie Hickman came away with the only interception for them in that game.
The Bengals are entering this game with an 8-8 record overall and they have a 0-5 record in their divisional games too. They are 5-3 in their home games, 3-5 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 lost their last game against the Kansas City Chiefs 25-17. Jake Browning was the starting QB and he completed 19/33 passes for 197 passing yards, 1 touchdown, and 0 interceptions. Joe Mixon led the team in rushing yards with 65. Ja'Marr Chase led the receivers with 41 receiving yards on 3 receptions. Jordan Battle led the defense in that game with 6 solo tackles and 2 assisted tackles while Mike Hilton and Trey Hendrickson each led the defense in sacks with 1. No one on the defense came away with an interception for them in that game.
Browns vs Bengals Prediction
The current betting odds have the Bengals listed as a 5 point favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Bengals haven't looked great in their games this season with their 8-8 record overall which has them eliminated from playoff contention coming into this final week. They have struggled in the AFC North all season with their 0-5 division record and their season has also been a bit of a write off as they lost Joe Burrow earlier in the year and even though they have been getting by without him, the team just hasn't been nearly as strong. The season is pretty much over for them but they have a chance to get their 1st division win of the year here and end their season the right way. Meanwhile, the Browns have looked great in their games this season with their 11-5 record overall which has clinched an AFC Wild Card spot for them already. The Browns also have one of the best defenses in the NFL this year but with their playoff spot already secure, they will be resting a lot of their starters in this game to stay healthy for the Wild Card Round. They don't need to win this game at all and they have struggled a lot more in their road games anyway with their 3-4 road record this season. Neither team has anything to play for here but the Browns still have the postseason while this is it for the Bengals this year and they will be looking to go out on a positive note with their only division win this year. 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, January 7, 2024 (1:00 pm ET start time) is Bengals 23 Browns 13.
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NFL Betting Trends
Cleveland Browns: 14-29 ATS after a win by 14 or more points. 4-11 ATS after gaining 400 or more total yards/game over their last 3 games. 8-2 UNDER off 2 or more consecutive overs. 6-1 UNDER after 2 straight games where 50 total points or more were scored.
Cincinnati Bengals: 34-21 ATS in all games. 21-8 ATS off 1 or more consecutive unders. 7-2 ATS after 2 or more consecutive losses against the spread. 8-2 UNDER after 2 or more consecutive losses against the spread. 5-1 UNDER after 2 or more consecutive losses. 5-1 UNDER after allowing 7 or more yards/play in their previous game.
Key Injuries
Cleveland Browns: A. Walker Jr. (LB) Ques Sun - Knee. D. Hopkins (K) Ques Sun - Hamstring. C. Bojorquez (P) Ques Sun - Quadricep. A. Cooper (WR) Ques Sun - Heel. E. Moore (WR) Ques Sun - Concussion. D. Thompson-Robinson (QB) I-R - Hip. O. Okoronkwo (DE) Out indefinitely - Pectoral. G. Delpit (S) I-R - Groin. M. Hurst II (DT) I-R - Pectoral. D. Jones (OT) I-R - Knee. J. Wills Jr. (OT) I-R - Knee. M. Woods II (WR) out for season - Achilles. R. McLeod (S) I-R - Bicep. D. Watson (QB) I-R - Shoulder. D. Forbes (G) Out indefinitely - Back. N. Chubb (RB) I-R - Knee. J. Conklin (OT) I-R - Knee. J. Grant Sr. (WR) I-R - Knee. J. Phillips (LB) I-R - Pectoral. D. Deaton (G) I-R - Knee.
Cincinnati Bengals: J. Davis (CB) Ques Sun - Groin. D. Smith (OT) Out indefinitely - Knee. D. Ivey (CB) I-R - Knee. D. Reader (DT) I-R - Quadricep. J. Burrow (QB) I-R - Wrist. T. Anderson (S) Out indefinitely - Knee. D. Cochran (OT) I-R - Knee. D. Maxwell (DT) I-R - Knee.
Notable Quotes
“You don't know how many of these moments you're going to get. I'm going to remember this for the rest of my life.” - Joe Flacco after their win against the Jets in their last game.
“Every guy left it all on the field. It was an emotional game. Physical game. All the things we knew would happen, happened. You have to give Kansas City credit. They got it done down the stretch.” - Zac Taylor after his team’s loss against the Chiefs in their last game.
Starting Lineups
Cleveland Browns
WR Cooper, Amari
WR Tillman, Cedric
WR Moore, Elijah
TE Njoku, David
QB Flacco, Joe
RB Ford, Jerome
Cincinnati Bengals
WR Chase, Ja'Marr
WR Higgins, Tee
WR Boyd, Tyler
TE Sample, Drew
QB Browning, Jake
RB Mixon, Joe
Statistical Leaders
Cleveland Browns
Passing: J. Flacco (1616)
Rushing: J. Ford (807)
Receiving: A. Cooper (1250)
Touchdowns: K. Hunt (9)
Cincinnati Bengals
Passing: J. Burrow (2309)
Rushing: J. Mixon (923)
Receiving: J. Chase (1197)
Touchdowns: J. Mixon (10)
Coaches:
Cleveland Browns: Kevin Stefanski (4th season)
Cincinnati Bengals: Zac Taylor (5th 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.
