Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals odds, picks and predictions

Kevin Erickson | Staff Writer

The Cleveland Browns (11-5) and Cincinnati Bengals (8-8) meet Sunday for the Week 18 regular-season finale at Paycor Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET (CBS). Below, we analyze FanDuel Sportsbook's lines around the Browns vs. Bengals odds, and make our expert NFL picks and predictions.

The Browns secured a playoff spot last week with a 37-20 win and cover against the New York Jets. QB Joe Flacco passed for 300-plus yards for the 4th consecutive game, and Cleveland won and covered for the 4th in a row. He'll be watching, with QB Jeff Driskel getting the nod, as Cleveland is locked into the 5th seed of the playoffs.

The Bengals are eliminated, but can still finish with a winning record. If Cincinnati wins, every AFC North would have a winning record to finish the season. That hasn't happened since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970.

Cincinnati has lost and failed to cover its past 2 games, with the Over going 4-1 in the past 5 games. The Bengals are looking to avenge a 24-3 loss in Cleveland back in Week 1.

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Browns at Bengals odds

Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access Paste BN Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Saturday at 9:38 p.m. ET.

Moneyline (ML): Browns +275 (bet $100 to win $275) | Bengals -340 (bet $340 to win $100)
Against the spread (ATS): Browns +7.5 (-115) | Bengals -7.5 (-105)
Over/Under (O/U): 37.5 (O: -102 | U: -120)

Browns at Bengals key injuries

Browns

P Corey Bojorquez (quadriceps) questionable
WR Amari Cooper (heel) out
CB Mike Ford (calf) out
DE Myles Garrett (shoulder, hamstring) out
WR Marquise Goodwin (knee) questionable
PK Dustin Hopkins (hamstring) out
LB Jordan Kunaszyk (calf) questionable
WR Elijah Moore (concussion) questionable
CB Greg Newsome II (knee) out
FS Juan Thornhill (calf) out

Bengals

CB Chidobe Awuzie (shoulder) questionable
CB Jalen Davis (groin) questionable
WR Tee Higgins (hamstring) doubtful

Browns at Bengals picks and predictions

Prediction

Bengals 23, Browns 12

Moneyline

The Bengals (-340) will cost you more than 3 times your potential return, and that's too much risk on a team which has been eliminated from the postseason. Will securing a winning record be enough motivation? It helps that the Browns (+275) are resting more of their key personnel.

PASS.

Against the spread

The BENGALS -7.5 (-105) are worth playing lightly, as the Browns +7.5 (-115) will be relying on backups to get them through the game. Cleveland's goal is to simply stay healthy heading into the postseason. Cincinnati might not have Higgins, so that's a problem, but all other starters are expected to be available to go, so advantage home side.

Over/Under

UNDER 37.5 (-120) is the best play. The Bengals should have close to its cadre of skill position players, but the Browns will be playing mostly reserves. Driskel is the 5th different starting QB, and he won't have Cooper on the outside. It's likely that the Browns struggle mightily to move the ball, and it wouldn't even be shocking to see single digits on the board.

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