NFL Picks: The Cincinnati Bengals are back on track with two consecutive wins that followed an ugly first half of October in which they failed to post a win in three straight games. The Cleveland Browns are quickly emerging as the surprise team of the NFL and are doing so without the services of Johnny Manziel. Instead it has been Brian Hoyer who has been the QB leading Cleveland to its upstart season.
The Cincinnati Bengals will host the Cleveland Browns at Paul Brown Stadium on Thursday night with coverage on NFL Network starting at 8:25 PM ET. Cincinnati opened as a six point favorite with a total of 44.
Hoyer Leads Brown Out
Cleveland is 5-3 straight up, 4-2-2 against the spread, and 4-4 on totals. The Browns are coming off their fourth win in fifth games in a 22-17 victory over Tampa Bay as they failed to cover as seven point home chalks. Hoyer has a solid 90.4 QB rating with a 10-4 TD/INT ratio. The Browns bend but don’t break defense ranks 29th overall in the NFL but eighth for points allowed.
Bengals Back
Cincinnati is 5-2-1 SU, 4-3-1 ATS, and 4-4 on totals. The Bengals are coming off a 33-23 home win over Jacksonville for a push as 10 point chalks. Cincinnati ranks 12th in the NFL for total offense. The Bengals rank an alarming 30th for total defense.
Matchup and NFL Picks
Cleveland has been a weak board value on the road and has paid out in just four out of their last 13 away games with six out of their last 10 away games going over the total. Cleveland has covered the spread in five out of their last nine games as a dog with just two out of their last nine games as a pup going under the total.
Cincinnati has been an outstanding board value at home with 12 payouts in their last 14 games at Paul Brown Stadium. The Bengals have gone over the total in seven out of their last 10 home games. Cincinnati has covered the spread in seven out of their last 11 games as a favorite with six out of their last nine games as a chalk going over the total.
The Bengals have covered the spread in just one out of their last five meetings with the Browns as five out of the last six meetings between the Bengals and Browns have gone over the total. But Cleveland has come away with the cash in just one out of their last four visits to Cincinnati with the last three meetings at Paul Brown Stadium between the Browns and Bengals going over the total.
We’ll call for Cincinnati (-6) and over the total of 44.
