NFL Playoff Wagering Odds, Predictions & Picks:Cleveland Browns Vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Only a week after securing the playoff spot with a win against the Steelers (12-4 SU, 10-6 ATS), the Browns (11-5 SU, 6-10 ATS) are again taking on their AFC North rivals in the last NFL playoff wagering game of the wild-card round. Cleveland managed to snap the longest playoff drought in the league and Pittsburgh will play their first playoff game in three years. Both teams are entering the postseason after some wobbly performances.
The Steelers ended the year with four losses in five games after going undefeated for eleven weeks while the Browns posted the worst ATS record of all the playoff teams and had a negative online football betting points differential.
NFL Playoff Wagering Cleveland Browns Vs. Pittsburgh Steelers Line Movement
Pittsburgh opened as -.5 NFL playoff wagering favorites but some heavy early action going their way pushed the line all the way to -6 where it stands at the moment. The total moved op a point since the online football betting odds were released and now is set at 47.5.
Notes On The Cleveland Browns
The biggest news in Cleveland ahead of the wild-card game is that head coach Kevin Stefanski will be out due to the Covid-19. In addition, several of his assistants will also be absent for Sunday’s game, with offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt set to call plays. Playing staff has also been hit by the virus and the most notable name on the Covid list is Pro Bowl guard Joel Bitonio. This means that the already pretty shaky Cleveland defense ranking 21st in points per game will be weakened even further. The offense led by Baker Mayfield is near league-average, ranking 14th in points per contest, although the running game is one of the best in the NFL.
Baker Mayfield had himself a pretty decent third NFL season, especially compared to the dismal sophomore campaign. Still, in two games against the Steelers this season, he only managed to throw for a total of 215 yards and 2 touchdowns with 2 interceptions. Bearing in mind that he’s going against an experienced defense in his playoff debut, it’s probably best to stay away from him when it comes to fantasy. The best Cleveland pick has to be RB Nick Chubb who has proven numerous times to be matchup-proof and has rushed 14 times for 108 yards and a TD in last week’s game.
Notes On The Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh is entering the playoffs after a wild ride of the season which included an 11-game winning streak and an awful three-game stretch in December where they failed to cover the spread in each of them. They recovered a bit with a solid win against the Colts and a narrow loss to Sunday’s rivals in a game where Mike Tomlin rested most of his starters.
Playing Without Big Ben
The Steelers should feel encouraged as they managed to hang with Cleveland without Big Ben and several other stars, whereas it was a must-win game for the Browns. The Pittsburgh produced well-balanced displays all season, with steady performance in all areas of the team.
A single exception may be their running game as they struggled with the ball on the ground. On the other side of the ball, their pass defense is 3rd in the league, while they’re also solid against the run ranking 11th. Overall, their defense was third-best in the NFL with only 19.5 points per game allowed.
Is Ben Roethlisberger A model of consistency this season?
Ben Roethlisberger wasn’t exactly a model of consistency this season, but he did have five games with more than 300 yards. With a week of rest, an experienced QB should do well against the Browns’ defense missing a couple of starters. Out of the rest of the Pittsburgh team, our favorite pick is Diontae Jonhson who gets double-digit targets each week and is always a danger near the end zone. The questionable status of his potential matchup, Denzel Ward, makes him an even more attractive option.
NFL Playoff Wagering Prediction And Betting Pick: Pittsburgh Steelers-6
Due to the late-season NFL playoff wagering struggles, many forgot what a force Pittsburgh was for the better part of the season. With key online football betting players well-rested, and mainly experienced and playoff-tested squad, they should have more than enough for this Cleveland team.
