The Ravens and Browns meet in Week 18 with the No. 3 seed in the AFC on the line for Baltimore.
The Baltimore Ravens have won three straight over the Giants, Steelers, and Texans out of the bye week to improve to 11-5. Baltimore is surging at the right time and put themselves first in the AFC North. The Ravens are locked into the third playoff spot and the AFC crown as long as they beat the Browns, which seems likely as -18 point home favorites.
The Cleveland Browns are 3-13 on the year and have lost five straight and six of the past seven since the bye week. Cleveland is set up for a top-four pick in the upcoming NFL draft if they lose in Week 18. With 16 total points scored in the past three games, it’s hard to see the Browns being competitive enough for a road upset to end its season.
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Game Details and How to watch the Baltimore Ravens vs. Cleveland Browns on Sunday
· Date: Saturday, January 4, 2024
· Time: 4:30 PM EST
· Site: M&T Bank Stadium
· City: Baltimore, MD
· TV/Streaming: CBS
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Game odds for Browns vs. Ravens
The latest odds as of Monday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: Baltimore Ravens (-1800), Cleveland Browns (+1000)
Spread: Ravens -18 (-110)
Total: 42.0
The spread opened at -14.5 and was quickly bet up past the key numbers of -16.5 and -17. This spread could close north of -20. The total has been set at 42.0 or 42.5 everywhere and doesn’t seem likely to move.
NBC Sports Bet Best Bet
Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) likes the Under 42.5 between the Ravens and the Browns:
“Cleveland has scored 16 total points in the past three games and hasn’t touched 10 points once in that stretch. The Browns are 1-6 in the last seven games and locked into a top-five pick with a loss here.
While playing the spoiler on a divisional rival is the motivation for a losing team, I just don’t see it in this Cleveland squad led by Dorian Thompson-Robinson. The Browns’ season looks over and Baltimore has been peaking at the right time.
Baltimore likely gets up by double-digits and attempts to sit on the ball and wind the clock down as much as possible. I don’t expect Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry, or a majority of the starters to play much in this contest, so it’ll be backups for the most part.
I like the Under 42.5 between the Ravens and Browns and lean Baltimore -18.5, but don’t think the juice is worth the squeeze after this opened at -14.5.”
Cleveland Brown vs. Baltimore Ravens team stats, betting trends
- Baltimore is 9-6-1 ATS and 3-3-1 ATS as a home favorite.
- Cleveland is 4-12 ATS, ranking second-worst.
- The Browns are 2-4 ATS as a road underdog this year.
- The Ravens are an NFL-best 12-4 to the Over and 5-2 as a home favorite.
- The Browns are 4-2 to the Under as road underdogs
- Cleveland is 10-6 to the Under overall, ranking second-best.
- Lamar Jackson has 13 total touchdowns in the past four games.
- Derrick Henry has run for 162 and 147 yards in the last two games.
- Mark Andrews has caught a touchdown in five straight games.
- Isaiah Likely has caught a touchdown in three of the last four games.
- Dorian Thompson-Robinson threw for 157 and 170 yards in his past two starts with zero touchdowns and three interceptions.
- Jerry Jeudy led the Browns with 94 yards on 12 receptions and 18 targets last week. Jeudy has led the team in yards six of the last seven games.
Quarterback matchup for Cleveland vs. Baltimore
Cleveland: Dorian Thompson-Robinson – DTR had another tough start with no touchdowns, one interception, and 170 passing yards on 24-of-47. DTR has zero touchdowns and three interceptions in the past two starts.
Baltimore: Lamar Jackson - Jackson is putting up MVP numbers of 39 passing touchdowns, four rushing touchdowns, 4,807 total yards, and four interceptions on the season. As such heavy favorites and the playoffs locked up, there is a good chance that Josh Johnson gets the second-half start, if not the full-game start.
Browns and Ravens injury update
Baltimore’s CB Tre’Davious White (shoulder) and NT Michael Pierce (calf) are questionable, while a handful of starters are expected to sit the second half or full game of this contest.
Cleveland’s WR Cedric Tillman (concussion), LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (neck), OL Jedrick Wills (knee), TE David Njoku (knee), and RB Nick Chubb (foot) are out, whole QB Jameis Winston (shoulder), LB Khaleke Hudson (ankle) and DT Mike Hall (ankle) are questionable.
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