Bengals vs. Browns Total Prediction
AFC North rivals meet in Cleveland on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. ET when the Browns host the Cincinnati Bengals. Will the division rivals score enough to push the combined score over the betting total?
Game Snapshot
119 Cincinnati Bengals at 120 Cleveland Browns
1:00 p.m. ET, Sunday, December 23
FirstEnergy Stadium, Cleveland, OH
Public Betting Trends
According to oddsmakers from online sports book BetNow.eu, the Browns are 9.5-point favorites to beat the Bengals. The total, meanwhile, sits at 44.5 points. As of this writing, 58% of the public betting tickets are on the Bengals to cover the point spread.
Cleveland Browns
Denzel Ward (concussion) is practicing in full for Week 16 against the Bengals. He’s cleared the league’s protocol, putting him on track to play Sunday against Cincinnati. Ward will be making his return from a two-game absence. The Pro Bowl rookie should spend most of his afternoon tailing deep threat John Ross.
Cincinnati Bengals
Joe Mixon (wrist, thigh) remained limited at Thursday’s practice. The thigh injury is a new wrinkle for Mixon, who was only listed with a wrist issue on Wednesday. Regardless, Mixon should be okay to play Sunday against Cleveland. Coming off consecutive 100-yard games, the second-year stud will be a must-start for owners competing in the fantasy championship this week. He’s seeking to become the Bengals’ first 1,000-yard rusher since Jeremy Hill in 2014.
NFL Betting Trends
Cincinnati
The Bengals are 5-2 against the spread in their last seven divisional games and are 20-8 ATS in their last 28 games played in the month of December.
Cleveland
The Browns are 5-2 against the number in their last seven home games but are 18-37-1 ATS in their last 56 games overall.
Prediction
The under has been a great bet when these two teams meet in Cleveland, covering in five straight games at FirstEnergy Stadium. The under is also 5-2-1 in the Bengals’ last eight conference games, is 4-0 in their last four road games versus a team with a losing home record and 35-16-1 in their last 52 games played in December. The under is also 4-1 in the Browns’ last five games overall and 19-7 in their last 26 home games.
NFL Week 16 Prediction: Bengals/Browns under 44.5