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NFL Super Wild Card Weekend: Cleveland Browns vs. Houston Texans betting picks, preview
NFL Super Wild Card Weekend gets started Saturday afternoon when the Cleveland Browns visit the Houston Texans. We have a road favorite in this one; is the spread set right?
Cleveland Browns vs. Houston Texans: Betting Odds
Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, 4:30 p.m. ET (NBC, fubo)
Spread: Cleveland -2.5, Over/under: 44.5, Cleveland -135 | Houston +114
These two teams met just a few weeks ago, a 36-22 Cleveland win in Houston that saw Amari Cooper pile up 265 receiving yards. We can read into that game a little bit, but it's important to acknowledge that presumed Rookie of the Year, C.J. Stroud, was not active for the Texans.
The presence of Stroud should help Houston's chances in what has been a surprisingly strong season for the franchise. Stroud has been a revelation at quarterback, making big plays all over the field, and head coach DeMeco Ryans has done a fantastic job in his first season at the helm.
The Texans won the AFC South with a 10-7 record and they are 6-3 at home this season.
As for the Browns, Cleveland clinched the top wild-card spot in the AFC at 11-6, despite dealing with a rash of injuries, namely at the quarterback position.
Cleveland has had to turn to Joe Flacco, and his play down the stretch has been so strong that he might win Comeback Player of the Year. The Browns' calling card has been their defense, arguably the NFL's best. The Browns are 3-5 on the road this season.
Cleveland is 11-6 ATS, tied for the second-best betting record in the NFL. Houston is 9-8 ATS. The Browns are 10-6-1 to the over while the Texans are 11-6 to the under.
Betting Picks for Cleveland vs. Houston
Browns -2.5
Defense wins championships, and Cleveland's elite defensive play is enough to power a true playoff run here in a wide-open AFC. It's going to be very difficult for C.J. Stroud to move the football through the air, and led by Myles Garrett, the Browns' line should be giving this Houston offense fits all afternoon long.
Houston's secondary has been a major problem lately, and Flacco, Cooper and David Njoku should be able to make plays and do enough to take down the Texans here on the road.
Whoever wins this game should give their next opponent issues, and we have to back the better defense no matter how much we like Stroud.
Give us Cleveland to win and cover this weekend.
Follow Griffin Carroll at griffybets.substack.com for data, trends and targets for every NFL game, plus all the off-season news you can use.
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