NFL Betting – Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland Browns

Usually at this point in the season the Cleveland Browns are figuring out what needs to be done to compete the next season. They’ve changed things around in 2020 and are on the verge of their first playoff berth in 17 years. The Browns are also looking to avenge a season opening loss when they host the Baltimore Ravens on Monday Night Football to conclude the betting week. The Ravens need a late season push to qualify for the postseason for a third consecutive season and the return of several players, including Lamar Jackson, from the COVID list allowed them to break a three-game losing streak. They are still on the outside looking in, but things are looking much better.  Bookmaker.eu offers a generous welcome bonus (max bonus $1600)

Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland Browns
Date and Time: Monday, December 14, 2020, 8:15 p.m. ET
Location: FirstEnergy Stadium, Cleveland, OH
NFL Odds: Baltimore -3, O/U 45.5
Ravens at Browns TV Coverage: ESPN

Odds Analysis

The Ravens picked up a much-needed victory last week ending a three-game losing streak that sent them below the playoff cut line. Sure, it was against a bad Dallas team, but it counts just the same. And it was good to see some familiar faces back in the lineup. Their recent struggles put this game as a toss-up on the opening line, but the betting public still likes the Ravens, who were wagered to -3. Baltimore has payouts in its last two games and is 6-6 ATS. The Ravens are 2-0 SU and ATS in the last two meetings with the Browns and have won eight of the last 10 going 7-3 ATS in that span. With four wins in a row and a 9-3 overall record, the Browns are inching closer to their first playoff berth since 2002. Their biggest win of the season came last week at Tennessee, 41-35, while catching 4-points on the line. The Browns lost games earlier in the season to division foes Baltimore and Pittsburgh by a combined score of 76-13 and they are 0-4 ATS against AFC North rivals.

Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens had to endure a lot over the last few weeks, from a COVID outbreak to schedule changes. And with it came a losing streak, one that reached three games when they could barely field a team against the Steelers. That game also moved around three times, eventually played on a Wednesday nearly a week after it was originally planned. They put all that behind them temporarily with a 34-17 victory over the Cowboys to get back in the thick of the playoff race.

The formula that worked so well leading to an NFL-best record and the top scoring offense last season was back. It also helped that reigning MVP Jackson overcame the virus to lead the charge against Dallas. With Jackson rushing for 94 yards and Gus Edwards going for 101, the Ravens amassed 294 yards on the ground and scored the most points since their season-opening win over Cleveland.

“I did have fun coming back. I missed my guys. It’s win or go home for us right now. Just going out there and putting it all on the line for one another, that’s joy for me. Being around my guys, being back out there it felt like a whole new year,” Jackson said. Getting Calais Campbell and Brandon Williams back boosted the defense, which ranks fourth in the NFL allowing 19.3 points per game.

Cleveland Browns

This certainly is a different year in Cleveland. The Browns have their most wins in a season since 2007 – and they still have four games remaining. They’ve won 10 games just once since the franchise was reborn in 1999. Their ability to win close games in a variety of ways has led to their second four-game winning streak. They won a defensive struggle 10-7 over Houston to start the run and dropped 41 on the Titans last week. The Browns won those four games by a combined 16 points going 2-2 ATS.

“There’s a lot of excitement, I’ll say that. But there’s still this feeling in the locker room that, yeah we’ve won, but we haven’t accomplished anything yet,” Rashard Higgins said. And they haven’t, other than the first winning record in over decade. And until the Browns can compete against their division mates that feeling will likely persist.

Baker Mayfield is coming off his best game of the season where he passed for 334 yards and four touchdowns without an interception. And the Browns have been good running the football with the duo of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt leading the second-best ground game. There’s still this perception that the Browns aren’t as good as the Ravens or Steelers, though the record says otherwise. Cleveland needs to forget about that opening day 38-6 loss when Mayfield threw for just 189 yards.

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I’m not giving up on the Ravens now that they have players back and the schedule has some normalcy to it. And since their playoff lives hang in the balance the Ravens should be extra motivated. And I’m still not convinced the Browns are as good as their record, which has me leaning toward the visitors minus the points.

NFL Score Prediction: Ravens 29, Browns 20

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- Phil Simon, Gambling911.com