Browns vs. Bengals, 12/29/19 NFL Week 17 Predictions & Betting Report

Browns vs. Bengals Week 17 Prediction

AFC North rivals with nothing on the line but pride will meet in Cincinnati on Sunday when the Bengals host the Browns at 1:00 p.m. ET. With the Browns laying 2.5 points as a road favorite, what’s the best bet for bettors when it comes to the side?

Game Snapshot

103 Cleveland Browns (-2.5) at 104 Cincinnati Bengals (+2.5); O/U 43

1:00 p.m. ET, Sunday, December 29, 2019

Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati, OH

Public Betting Odds

According to our NFL Public Betting Chart page, the Browns are drawing 66% of the betting tickets ahead of tonight’s game.

Cleveland Browns Fantasy Spin

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport confirms Odell Beckham (questionable, groin, illness) is expected to play Week 17 against the Bengals. Beckham sat out Friday's end-of-week practice due to food poisoning but has reportedly improved enough to suit up for Sunday's finale. He's also battling a sports hernia, an injury that could require offseason surgery. Even with injuries and poor coaching (first-year coach Freddie Kitchens has been an utter disaster) both working against him, Beckham has still contributed a respectable 954 yards this season. OBJ logged a modest 2-39-0 receiving line when the Browns hosted Cincy in Week 14.

Cincinnati Bengals Fantasy Spin

Joe Mixon rushed 21 times for 50 yards in the Bengals' Week 16 loss to the Dolphins. Mixon added two receptions for 23 yards to bring his fantasy line up to 9.3 PPR points. It was a disappointment given the opponent, especially since the Bengals had two overtime possessions. Mixon was arguably slower than normal because of his "stomach bug" but he did still have his bellcow role. The Bengals will close the season out with a matchup against the Browns. Mixon will be an RB2 as long as the starters play.

Cleveland

The Browns are just 2-8 against the spread in their last 10 meetings with the Bengals but the favorite is 8-1 against the number in the last nine meetings.

Cincinnati

The Bengals are 1-6 against the spread in their last seven home games and 1-4 ATS in their last five divisional games.

NFL Week 17 Prediction

Let’s play a game of who do you trust more, the 1-14 team that will own the No. 1 overall pick in next April’s NFL draft or the talented team that is also highly dysfunctional? With reports suggesting that players like Beckham Jr., Jarvis Landry and David Njoku wanting out in Cleveland, I’m choosing the former, as the Bengals still look like they’re trying at least. They did lose to the Dolphins last week in Miami but stormed back to erase a 16-point deficit in the final few minutes to force overtime. Despite its struggles over the past few seasons, Cincinnati is 23-11 against the spread in its last 34 games played in December.

NFL WEEK 17 PREDICTION: CINCINNATI BENGALS +2.5