AFC North has one of the biggest rivalries in the NFL. Each game in this division is a must-win for the participants, and so is this one. The shorthanded Bengals will have the “preseason” Browns against themselves on Sunday evening and a chance to ease the pain caused by this terrible campaign.
Before Betting on Browns vs. Bengals
The Browns are resting several of their starters here, and that’s perfectly normal, knowing how many injured stars they have. QB Watson and RB Chubb are just two of them, and we don’t need to mention any other names. Veteran passer Joe Flacco is 38 years old, so keeping him healthy for the playoffs is the logical choice.
Therefore, Jeff Driskel will take over the quarterback position. Driskel has spent the past seven years as a backup and practice squad player for seven different teams, and he was only signed by Cleveland last Friday, so we don’t expect to see the receivers Amari Cooper and Eliham Moore as well.
New Year’s Eve wasn’t that happy for the Bengals, who lost to the Chiefs, thus ending their playoff hopes. They were up 17-7 in the second quarter, which only made this defeat much tougher for Cinci’s fans, who witnessed their favorites allowing 15 straight points.
Without Joe Burrow, this team isn’t the same, and you don’t have to work in NASA to realize that. Unfortunately, Burrow’s season ended prematurely due to a hand injury suffered during a Week 11 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. He previously struggled with a calf injury that saw the Bengals opening the season with only one win in the four opening rounds.
Browns vs. Bengals NFL Week 18 Offshore Betting Odds
| Offshore Sportsbook | Moneyline | Total | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|
| BetOnline | Browns (3.75) | Bengals (1.30) | 37 | Browns +7.5 (1.86) | Bengals -7.5 (1.96) |
| MyBookie | Browns (3.75) | Bengals (1.30) | 37 | Browns +7 (1.96) | Bengals -7 (1.86) |
| BetUS | Browns (3.60) | Bengals (1.31) | 37 | Browns +7 (2.00) | Bengals -7 (1.83) |
| SportsBetting.ag | Browns (3.75) | Bengals (1.30) | 37 | Browns +7.5 (1.86) | Bengals -7.5 (1.96) |
| XBet | Browns (3.75) | Bengals (1.30) | 37 | Browns +7 (1.96) | Bengals -7 (1.86) |
At this point, the Bengals are playing solely for pride, but they should be motivated, particularly since they are facing a rival in front of their home fans. Initially, I considered betting on the Under for Cleveland’s total team score, but with the number set at just 14.5, I believe it is more likely that the Browns’ first drive will end in a punt instead.
