Browns vs. Bengals Point Spread: NFL Week 16 Odds, Prediction
The Bengals have stayed in the mix by posting back-to-back wins, capped by last week’s 37-27 victory in Tennessee, but need to win out the rest of the way and get plenty of help from AFC rivals to remain in contention for a playoff spot. The Browns were outclassed in a 21-7 loss to the visiting Kansas City Chiefs in Week 15 to extend their current losing streak to three games and make the short journey to Cincinnati riding a six-game losing streak on the road.
The Bengals have roared to lofty 8.5-point favourites on the NFL Week 16 odds. The Browns lag as distant +350 underdogs on the NFL moneyline and the total is pegged at 47.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Sunday afternoon’s matchup marks the second and final meeting of the season between these AFC North rivals. The Bengals rolled to a 21-14 win in Cleveland back in Week 7, extending their current head-to-head win streak to two games. Cincinnati has also topped the Browns in two straight on home turf, with each of those victories coming by double-digit margins, and the UNDER has paid out in four of their past six clashes, ending a 7-0-1 run for the OVER. Already eliminated from playoff contention, the Browns have struggled to generate consistent offence, averaging just 10.5 points per game over their past two outings and have tallied 16 or fewer points in nine of their past 12 outings including five of six road games.
Cleveland Browns
With Jameis Winston struggling with accuracy issues as well as a shoulder injury that has limited him at practice, the Browns have named Dorian Thompson-Robinson as the starting quarterback for Sunday’s visit to Cincinnati. This marks the first start of the season for Thompson-Robinson, who has yet to find the end zone on four previous appearances this season and saw his biggest assignment come in the Bengals’ visit to Cleveland after Deshaun Watson suffered a season-ending injury. The second-year pivot mustered just 82 yards on 11-for-24 passing in that contest while also throwing two picks and inherits an offence that has failed to throw TDs in two of four outings. That should mean a steady diet of touches for running back Jerome Ford, who ran for a season-high 84 yards and his second score of the season in last week’s loss to the Chiefs.
Cincinnati Bengals
The big concerns facing the Bengals are the health status of quarterback Joe Burrow and receiver Tee Higgins. Burrow continues to be bothered by a lingering hand injury and is also nursing a knee injury that have limited him at practice and raise questions about how effective he will be on what is expected to be a cold sunny day in Cincinnati. However, injuries have not slowed down Burrow, who throw three touchdowns in last week’s victory over the Titans and connected on 21 total TD passes over the past six games, making him a solid +155 bet on the NFL player props to toss for at least three scores on Sunday. Higgins is dealing with a knee injury that kept him out of Thursday practice after racking up 88 yards and making his fourth scoring catch in five games last weekend.
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