Bengals vs. Browns Preview: Best NFL Week 1 Betting Site Odds, Promos
The Cincinnati Bengals visit the Cleveland Browns at 1 p.m. ET today. Bengals odds show Cincinnati is a spread favorite and on the moneyline, with Browns odds at as the best price for Cleveland to win across sports betting sites . The point total is set at . In this article, we break down everything you need to know before placing a bet on Bengals vs. Browns odds.
Bengals vs. Browns Betting Odds
NFL Week 1 odds are explained below. Know what you’re betting before you bet it. Click on odds anywhere in this post to navigate to the sportsbook and place a bet.
Bengals vs. Browns Props
Tee Higgins: Over 57.5 Receiving Yards (-114)
The Browns roll into their Week 1 with a potentially-depleted secondary. Star corner Denzel Ward is yet to clear concussion protocol and isn’t likely to play Sunday. New addition Juan Thornhill also missed practice time this week with a calf injury. The goal of opposing defenses is to slow down Ja’Marr Chase, and the Browns will almost certainly focus their efforts to the young superstar. That leaves Higgins on the Browns’ No. 2 corner (behind Ward).
The speedier Greg Newsome – who’s listed as a nickel corner – will likely handle more of the Chase duties, as both run equal 40 times (4.38). That leaves Higgins to sophomore corner Martin Emerson. At 6-foot-4, Higgins has a slight size advantage. Emerson posted the best coverage grade on the Browns in 2022, per PFF, and the 17th-best grade among corners in the NFL (min. 350 snaps).
In four career games against Cleveland, Higgins averages 6.3 targets per game.
Best available number: Tee Higgins Over 57.5 Receiving Yards (-114)
Joe Mixon Under 81.5 Rushing & Receiving Yards (-115)
Without Samaje Perine to complement, the Bengals backfield belongs to Mixon. This season, he’ll receive the bulk of the work for Cincinnati and what better start to the season than against last year’s worst rush defense in EPA? His props at BetRivers Sportsbook for combined rushing and receiving yards certainly are priced like he’s playing the NFL’s worst run defense. Mixon’s best rush yards prop comes at FanDuel Sportsbook (54.5) while BetRivers posts 81.5 scrimmage yards. The highest receiving prop for Mixon is 20.5 yards – seven fewer than what’s needed to combine the prop manually.
Further, the Browns hired Jim Schwartz to conduct their defense, replacing Joe Woods. They also added former All Pro Za’darius Smith and tackle Shelby Harris to bolster a defensive front. Linebackers Anthony Walker and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah also return after missing most of last year with injury.
BetRivers’ number is both inflated, like it was based on last year’s production, and several yards above what other sportsbooks imply about Mixon’s total yardage.
Best available number: Joe Mixon Under 81.5 Rushing & Receiving Yards (-115)
Bengals vs. Browns Player Props Finder Tool
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Bengals vs. Browns weather
Weather reports suggest Browns Stadium in Cleveland could see rain Sunday. There’s a sub-30% chance with highs in the mid- to upper-60s. Winds may push up to or just above 10 mph, but should not be strong enough to effect the game.
Bengals vs. Browns Injury Report
NFL teams finalize their injury reports two days before a game and denote whether a player is questionable, doubtful or out. Practice participation is also logged throughout the week. Here is the Bengals injury report and Browns injury report for this week.
Starters On The Injury Report
The biggest name to watch is Joe Burrow. He suffered a calf injury in camp, although he is expected to play Week 1. Defensive end Joseph Ossai missed Wednesday’s and Thursday’s practice, suggesting he may not play for Cincinnati.
For the Browns, Juan Thornhill missed Thursday and Friday’s practice with a calf injury. Denzel Ward is still clearing concussion protocol, as well.
Bengals Offense vs. Browns Defense
Last offseason, the Bengals dumped the majority of their spending into a revamped offensive line. The investment worked – Burrow was the third-least pressured quarterback in the NFL in 2022 until he was taken down five times in the AFC Championship Game. Again, Cincinnati went to the free agent market and signed former Chiefs left tackle Orlando Brown to shore up the blind side. The other main players return, but notably Tee Higgins, who was rumored to be moved.
The expectations for this coming season remain unchanged. Mixon fixes to be the primary work horse back as Samaje Perine signed with Denver, and the Bengals’ trio of explosive receivers will garner most of the attention. Cleveland gets their first crack at Cincinnati under new defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz.
Should Ward not go, Emerson and Newsome would handle the cornerbacking duties, although Newsome appears to have moved to a rotational nickel back this season. New additions to the defense include Juan Thornhill, Shelby Harris, and Za’Darius Smith.
Talent was never the issue on the Browns’ stop unit – inept coaching from a now-departed coordinator consistently held the team back. Under Schwartz, there should be noted improvement.
Browns Offense vs. Bengals Defense
Year 1 under Deshaun Watson could not have gone worse. From offseason noise to Watson falling flat in limited work, his addition to the team fully applied the brakes both on and off the field. This year, the Browns saw a major drop in Super Bowl odds, although the expectation is that he takes a step forward. Cleveland brought in receiver Elijah Moore and drafted Cedric Tillman to help boost a lifeless pass catching unit last year.
But the Browns’ offense quite literally runs through Nick Chubb, who now sits alone in the backfield. Chubb runs behind the NFL’s second-best offensive line, per PFF. He has career success against Cincinnati, although the Bengals return most of their front and posted the seventh-best EPA against the run last season. Their two run-supporting safeties – Jessie Bates and Von Bell – departed in free agency, however.
When it comes to offensive vs. defensive play calling on this side of the ball, though, the Bengals have a major advantage. Kevin Stefanski assumes the majority of the play calling duties and Lou Anarumo is one of the best in-game adjusters in the NFL.
Reasons To Bet The OVer/Under
Just two games have a point total over 50 this week. At , this game has the third-highest total on the week. In terms of offensive talent and the Bengals’ propensity to score in buckets, the over is likely a popular bet as the week moves along. However, with such a mismatch in play calling, and no proof that Watson is back to playing at a high-level, the under may be the sharper side in this one.
Keep an eye on the forecast as Sunday approaches, as increased rain chances will certainly drive the total down.
Final Thoughts
The time to buy the Bengals was fleeting, as the immediate reaction to Burrow’s injury swung the pendulum heavily in Cleveland’s favor. Those looking to bet against Burrow playing (or playing at 100%) may want to take a bet on the Browns. The lone QB behind Burrow on the roster is Jake Browning, although the decision to cut ties with other backups on the roster suggest Burrow may be fine to play.
The narrative on Burrow vs. the Browns changed. After starting 0-5 against the in-state rival, Burrow notched a convincing victory in Cincinnati in Week 14 last season. While winning at Cleveland is a different deal, plenty of Bengals representation exists up north. However, with the number backed up to a key number in football betting, Browns bettors would be wise to remain patient. Bengals backers have the opportunity to lay the points under a field goal, although the market has not moved much in their favor.
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