Cleveland Browns vs. Cincinnati Bengals Betting Odds
The Bengals looked good last week but couldn't get things done in the end against the New York Giants on the road in overtime, losing 23-26. Here's their chance to redeem themselves against a Cleveland Browns team that has the same record as Cincinnati: 0-3.
Cleveland Browns vs. Cincinnati Bengals opened with -4 odds in favor of the Bengals and the line has dropped down to -3 at BetOnline.com, though many of the online sports books have this one set at -3 ½.
The action is pretty even at most books though Cleveland was getting a lot of action on the money line (over 90 percent) with a payout potential of around $165 for every $100 bet if they were to win outright here.
Ohio's two professional football teams are both off to 0-3 starts, but the Cincinnati Bengals' latest loss at least has them encouraged that they're headed in the right direction.
The Cleveland Browns, on the other hand, don't seem to know quite where they're headed -- or who's going to lead them.
The Bengals will try to take the positives from a tight loss to the defending Super Bowl champs into their matchup Sunday with the visiting Browns, who appear to be on the verge of a quarterback controversy.
The Bengals prepare to pick up their first win Sunday as they take on the rival Browns on Sunday at home. More... Though winless, Cincinnati has improved each week since an opening loss in Baltimore in which it gained only 154 yards and didn't score an offensive touchdown. The Bengals didn't figure to have much of a chance Sunday in East Rutherford against the New York Giants, but gave the reigning Super Bowl champions all they could handle.
The home team has won four of the last five games in this series. Cincinnati has won four of the last five in this series.
The Browns, however, are 10-2 ATS in their last 12 road games vs. a team with a losing home record. They are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games following a ATS loss. They are actually 13-4 ATS in their last 17 games following a SU loss of more than 14 points. And Cleveland is 12-4 ATS in their last 16 games on grass.
But the trends appear to be moving downward for Cleveland.
The Browns have the NFL's worst offense (207.3 yards per game) after finishing with the league's ninth-ranked unit (360.1 ypg) last season behind Pro Bowl quarterback Derek Anderson.
So far, Anderson hasn't looked anything like the player who threw 29 touchdowns passes in 2007. He's thrown for two scores and five interceptions through three games, and his 43.5 passer rating is 31st in the league.
Anderson's struggles have prompted speculation that 2007 first-round pick Brady Quinn will take over. While coach Romeo Crennel said Wednesday that Anderson would start under center against the Bengals, he didn't rule out Quinn seeing action -- perhaps soon.
"We have to look at all of the positions," Crennel said. "We'll definitely try to get the other guy ready and get him ready to go and we'll see how it progresses from there."
It's very possible that Quinn will see action on Sunday.
The Bengals are 3-10 ATS in their last 13 games after allowing more than 350 total yards in their previous game. They are 7-19-1 ATS in their last 27 home games vs. a team with a losing road record. Cincinnati is also 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games following a ATS win.
Our review of the line suggests that Cincinnati should have odds of -6 ½ in this one.
With a quarterback change possible in Cleveland and two 0-4 teams going at it here, the best bet here is not to bet at all. Anything can happen and - aside from recent head-to-head trends, there are plenty of stats to suggest either team can win out here.
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Don Shapiro, Gambling911.com
