Cleveland Browns vs Cincinnati Bengals Prediction, 1/7/2024 NFL Picks, Best Bets & Odds Week 18

Game: Cleveland Browns vs Cincinnati Bengals

Date: Sunday, January 7, 2024

Location: Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, OH

TV: CBS

Odds/Point Spread: Bengals (-5.5)

Total/Over-Under: 39

The Cleveland Browns (11-5) are hitting the road to Paycor Stadium on Sunday where they will go up against the Cincinnati Bengals (8-8). Cleveland is 5.5-point dogs. The over/under has been set at 39.

The Cleveland Browns come into this game with a record of 11-5 for this season. The last time they took the field, the Browns went up against the Jets and notched a win by a score of 37-20. Jerome Ford led the offense in rushing for the Browns with 12 attempts for 64 yds (5.3 yds per attempt). David Njoku had an average of 22.3 yards per catch by accumulating 134 yds on 6 receptions. Joe Flacco connected on 19/29 with 309 yards through the air and 3 TDs. He had a QB rating of 121.2 and ended the contest with 1 interception. On the ground, the Browns conceded 107 yards on 21 attempts, which is an average of 5.1 yards per rush allowed. Cleveland conceded 32 completions on 45 attempts for a total of 253 yards, and a completion percentage of 71.1%. On the day, they ran 58 plays which totaled 428 yards. The Cleveland Browns ran the football 28 different times and compiled 127 yds, which had them averaging 4.5 yds per attempt.

The Browns have earned 5,466 total yards for the season. Cleveland has 165 1st downs as a team, and they have committed 108 penalties for 862 yds. When it comes to scoring, Cleveland has totaled 22 passing touchdowns and 15 touchdowns on the ground. They have given the ball to the opposition 35 different times (21 interceptions and 14 fumbles). As a unit they are averaging 119.6 yards in the run game which has them sitting 11th in the league. When it comes to getting in the endzone, the Cleveland Browns are sitting at 23.9 points per outing.

Regarding yards via the pass, the Browns have surrendered 2,655 yards which ranks them 1st in the NFL. They have relinquished 165.9 yards per game through the air in addition to conceding a completion percentage of 56.4%. During the season, they have surrendered 266.6 yards/outing putting them at 1st in the NFL. Opposing teams are running for an average of 4.1 yards per rushing attempt and 100.6 rushing yards per game this year. In total, they have conceded 1,610 rushing yards through 16 games. The Browns are ranked 11th in the league when it comes to team defense, allowing 20.7 points per game.

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The Bengals come into this matchup with a record of 8-8 for this year. In their last game, the Bengals went home defeated by a final of 25-17 when they faced the Chiefs. Joe Mixon ran the football 21 times for 65 yards, ending the contest with 3.1 yds per carry for Cincinnati. Ja'Marr Chase was featured in the passing game for the Bengals, catching 3 balls for 41 yds (13.7 yds per catch). Jake Browning (1 TD) walked away from the contest with 197 yds on 19/33 passing while his quarterback rating was 85. He didn't throw any picks and his Y/A was 6.0 yards. Cincinnati surrendered 22 running attempts for 132 yards (6.0 yards per rush). The Bengals passing defense gave up a completion rate of 72.4%, surrendering 241 yards on 21 for 29 through the air. The Bengals ended up finishing with 263 yds while running 71 plays (3.7 yds per play). Cincinnati ran for 3.3 yards per carry, finishing with 104 yds on 32 carries.

In relation to putting points on the board, the Bengals rank 20th in football with 20.9 PPG. During the season to this point, the Bengals currently sit at 3,750 yards via the pass as well as holding an average of 234.4 throwing yards per contest, which ranks 11th out of all NFL teams. They average 84.0 run yards per game and have toted the ball for 1,344 yards in total. The Cincinnati Bengals maintain an average of 318.4 yards/game which has them sitting 22nd in football. The Cincinnati offense has accrued 604 penalty yds on 75 violations, which is 31st in the league in terms of hurting your team. They have tossed 13 interceptions while allowing opponents to recover 2 fumbles and they have tallied 198 first downs.

They have allowed 21 touchdowns via the pass in addition to 255.2 yards/game, which puts them in 29th in football. Cincinnati has allowed a total of 2,041 yards on the ground (127.6 yards/game) and 17 touchdowns by ground for the year. Overall, they have surrendered 370 total points. They have 24 turnovers (9 fumbles recovered and 15 picks) on the year. The Bengals defense taken the field for 1,002 plays, which ranks 11th in football. The Bengals are giving up 23.1 points per game, which has them sitting 22nd of all teams in the NFL.

Who will win tonight's Browns/Bengals NFL game against the spread?

Guy's Pick: Take the Bengals -5.5

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