Mid-November means weather can have a major impact on performance. For Sunday at First Energy Stadium it looks like 16C with light showers and 33km/hr wind, so pretty good football conditions for northeast Ohio this time of year.

NFL Week 10 Point Spread and Betting Analysis

The last time these two clubs met the Texans took it 29-13 back in December 2018 and lead the all-time series 7-3. The Browns are a 3.0-point favourite and the Over/Under is set at 51.0.

The Browns are 4-0 against the spread (ATS) when hosting an opponent with a losing record and Houston’s pushed the O/U to the over side in each of their last four outings as a road underdog.

Houston Texans

The Texans only victories have been in their pair of contests versus the Jacksonville Jaguars in what’s looking like a lost season. There’s no running game to speak of besides quarterback Deshaun Watson (ranked 31st), and to make matters worse, starting RB David Johnson is in concussion protocol. However, the air attack can be electric. Sixth in passing yards, Watson’s found a nice groove with the explosive Will Fuller and Brandin Cooks, while sprinkling in some timely tosses to the tight ends. Containing Watson in the pocket and making the offense truly one dimensional will be key for the Browns.

This once vaunted defense has nose dived to 30th overall and are dead last against the run. Houston’s only notable disruptors are the aging J.J. Watt and Whitney Mercilus. Speaking of Watt, he is 3-0 when facing the Browns. In those meetings he totaled two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble, a sack, a pass defended, and even caught a touchdown when lined up at tight end on a trick play.

Fun fact – interim head coach Romeo Crennel was the Browns sideline boss from 2005-08 and is currently the oldest HC in the NFL at 73.

Cleveland Browns

The bye week came at the right time for the Browns. Stud running back Nick Chubb is set to return from a MCL sprain, co-star Kareem Hunt is on the mend from a variety of ailments, Austin Hooper has recovered from an appendectomy, and Baker Mayfield is off the league’s COVID/Reserve list.

Cleveland was No. 1 in rushing yards with Chubb in the lineup the first month of the season. Seems like the perfect matchup for the home team taking on a unit allowing the most rushing yards per game at 159.5-average. It will be interesting to see how head coach Kevin Stefanski incorporates Rashard “Hollywood” Higgins into the game plan as Odell Beckham Jr.’s replacement for the rest of this 2020 campaign.

NFL Prediction: Who Will Win Texans vs. Browns?