Bengals vs. Browns Point Spread: NFL Week 1 Odds, Prediction
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Edgar Chaput
For a long time, Bengals-Browns games were not ones most NFL fans circled on the calendar. The 2023 edition of this divisional and state rivalry has an added twist as Cleveland quarterback Deshaun Watson gets to play after a full offseason of workouts and dipping his toes into the game late during the 2022 campaign.
The NFL odds have the Bengals currently pinned as slight -2.5 favourites, with the total set at 47.5.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
In addition to the Watson element, Cincy QB Joe Burrow says that he’s ready to go on Sunday. He has been listed as questionable for over a month due to an injury suffered in practice in July.
Despite the arrival of Burrow a few years ago, it’s the Browns who have dominated the season series. Last year’s 23-10 Cincinnati win in December halted a streak of five consecutive Cleveland victories.
Not only did Zac Taylor’s group impress in 2022 with a 12-4 record (they only played 16 games because of the unfortunate Damar Hamlin injury), they dominated against the spread, finishing 12-3-1. Very few teams complete such successful seasons ATS, especially when favoured so regularly. For all the weapons they have on offence, the over only went 6-9-1.
As for the Browns, last year was mostly one to forget, as they went only 7-10 in the standings. Their efforts ATS were slightly superior at 8-9. They were only 4-4 at home, however, and 5-5 when pinned as an underdog. The over went 8-8-1.
Cincinnati Bengals
The news came late, and many people got it through social media, but Joe Burrow should be under centre this Sunday, notwithstanding a regression of his health.
It must be fun being a Bengals fan these days. Claiming that the club just needs to pick up where they left off sounds wonderful. They were 12-4, bounced out the hated Ravens in the Wild Card round, then the Bills in Buffalo in a snowstorm, and played the Chiefs as tight as they could in the AFC Championship game. Just do that again? Great! Everyone has waxed poetic about the receiver corps, justifiably so. Burrow is throwing to Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Tyler Boyd, and now has Irv Smith Jr. from Minnesota. Then there is RB Joe Mixon, who recently agreed to a contract to stay in Cincy. If there was a weakness last year, it was against the pass. They’ve brought in reinforcements to help the secondary, which is the only thing that could pay the role of a fly in the ointment.
Cleveland Browns
Get ready, Browns fans. Get ready for what might be a strange season. The whole Deshaun Watson situation is awkward to say the least. His mega-guaranteed contract is not even at the top of the list of bewildering realities.
Be that as it may, he is a very good quarterback when healthy and ready to go, which he wasn’t really last December. Those games were more to help him transition back into the speed and intensity of NFL football after being away for an extended period. He has Amari Cooper to throw to, one of the best in the business despite lacking consistency. The team also brought in WR Elijah Moore, who not long ago was a supposed beacon of hope for the Jets. If all else fails, just give the ball to RB Nick Chubb, a 1,000+ yard runner four seasons in a row and averaging five yards per touch every year.
CIN
CLE