Best bets for Steelers-Browns 🤑
Best bets for Steelers-Browns
ESPN PLUS ($ MATERIAL)
The 2019 NFL season is in full swing, and we're here with a betting preview for Thursday night's game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns.
The Steelers have won four straight to move into second place in the AFC North at 5-4. The Browns, meanwhile, won last week to snap a four-game skid and sit at 3-6.
ESPN betting analyst Joe Fortenbaugh, fantasy's Mike Clay and sports betting deputy editor David Bearman combine to offer their best bets for the matchup of division rivals.
Note: Odds courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook, unless otherwise noted. Odds as of Wednesday.
Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns (-3, 40.5)
Steelers +3
Bearman: I'm still not buying Cleveland. I thought the Browns would turn it around at Denver two weeks ago and then watched them stink it up. They earned a late push and a straight-up win vs. Buffalo last week, but by no means was it impressive. Remember that blowout win over Baltimore in Week 4? That was the Browns' most recent cover. As for the Steelers, after the Monday night halftime wake-up call vs. the Dolphins, they've looked impressive in wins over the Colts and Rams. The defense, which made Jared Goff look like rookie year Jared Goff, is up to third in Football Outsiders' DVOA. If the Steelers harass Baker Mayfield in the same manner that they did Goff, it'll be a long night for Mayfield in Cleveland.
Fortenbaugh: Give credit where credit is due, as the Browns managed to snap a four-game losing streak in a 19-16 home win over the Bills on Sunday. But the only thing that hollow victory accomplished was the reigniting of a false belief that this Cleveland squad is actually a good football team. Talented? Yes. Good? No. Enter the Steelers, who have both won and covered the spread in five of their past six outings and currently rank second in the NFL in turnover differential and takeaways, third in sacks and tied for fifth in opponent yards per play. By the way, take note that Mike Tomlin's crew is 6-4 straight up and 9-1 against the spread in the underdog role dating to the start of the previous season. Don't be shocked if the Steelers win this game outright.
Vance McDonald over 3.0 receptions (-110)
Clay: After averaging 3.8 targets per game in his first five full games this season, McDonald has handled seven targets each of the past two weeks. He played 90% of the snaps and ran a route on 90% of pass plays in that span. Although he has yet to clear 40 yards in a game this season, he is averaging 3.4 catches per outing in his seven full games. Cleveland has allowed the ninth-fewest receptions to tight ends this season but has allowed a 72% catch rate (sixth-highest) to the position. McDonald has caught a healthy 71% of his targets this season, so if he sticks in the six-to-eight-target range, his hitting four catches is a good bet.
ESPN PLUS ($ MATERIAL)
The 2019 NFL season is in full swing, and we're here with a betting preview for Thursday night's game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns.
The Steelers have won four straight to move into second place in the AFC North at 5-4. The Browns, meanwhile, won last week to snap a four-game skid and sit at 3-6.
ESPN betting analyst Joe Fortenbaugh, fantasy's Mike Clay and sports betting deputy editor David Bearman combine to offer their best bets for the matchup of division rivals.
Note: Odds courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook, unless otherwise noted. Odds as of Wednesday.
Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns (-3, 40.5)
Steelers +3
Bearman: I'm still not buying Cleveland. I thought the Browns would turn it around at Denver two weeks ago and then watched them stink it up. They earned a late push and a straight-up win vs. Buffalo last week, but by no means was it impressive. Remember that blowout win over Baltimore in Week 4? That was the Browns' most recent cover. As for the Steelers, after the Monday night halftime wake-up call vs. the Dolphins, they've looked impressive in wins over the Colts and Rams. The defense, which made Jared Goff look like rookie year Jared Goff, is up to third in Football Outsiders' DVOA. If the Steelers harass Baker Mayfield in the same manner that they did Goff, it'll be a long night for Mayfield in Cleveland.
Fortenbaugh: Give credit where credit is due, as the Browns managed to snap a four-game losing streak in a 19-16 home win over the Bills on Sunday. But the only thing that hollow victory accomplished was the reigniting of a false belief that this Cleveland squad is actually a good football team. Talented? Yes. Good? No. Enter the Steelers, who have both won and covered the spread in five of their past six outings and currently rank second in the NFL in turnover differential and takeaways, third in sacks and tied for fifth in opponent yards per play. By the way, take note that Mike Tomlin's crew is 6-4 straight up and 9-1 against the spread in the underdog role dating to the start of the previous season. Don't be shocked if the Steelers win this game outright.
Vance McDonald over 3.0 receptions (-110)
Clay: After averaging 3.8 targets per game in his first five full games this season, McDonald has handled seven targets each of the past two weeks. He played 90% of the snaps and ran a route on 90% of pass plays in that span. Although he has yet to clear 40 yards in a game this season, he is averaging 3.4 catches per outing in his seven full games. Cleveland has allowed the ninth-fewest receptions to tight ends this season but has allowed a 72% catch rate (sixth-highest) to the position. McDonald has caught a healthy 71% of his targets this season, so if he sticks in the six-to-eight-target range, his hitting four catches is a good bet.
