Browns vs Bengals Predictions, Picks & Best Bets for NFL Week 18

One of the longest and fiercest rivalries in the NFL resumes in Week 18 when the Cleveland Browns visit the Cincinnati Bengals for the Battle of Ohio.

This rivalry rarely produces offensive fireworks, and my Browns vs. Bengals predictions anticipate a low-scoring affair at Paycor Stadium.

Advertisement

Read on for my NFL picks for Sunday, January 4.

Browns vs Bengals prediction

Browns vs Bengals Best bet: Under 44.5 (-112)

The Battle of Ohio between the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals has long been a low-scoring grind, and nothing about this matchup suggests a change.

Their Week 1 meeting followed the script, ending 17–16 as Cleveland’s defense smothered Joe Burrow, holding him to a career-low 113 passing yards.

Cleveland’s offense remains one of the league’s worst, ranking 31st in scoring at just 16.2 points per game.

Rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders is still adjusting to NFL speed and is without his top target, tight end Harold Fannin Jr.

Advertisement

Cincinnati’s offense has shown flashes, but this is still an elite Browns defense playing with extra motivation: putting Myles Garrett in position to chase the NFL sack record.

With cold temperatures around 39°F and four of the last five Battle of Ohio matchups staying under the total, this sets up as another defensive slugfest, making the Under the clear way to play it.

Browns vs Bengals same-game parlay

Tee Higgins quietly gets the job done. Higgins has five or more targets in five of his previous six games and has recorded 56 or more receiving yards in four of his last six games.

Sanders has been better than some expected. The Bengals' passing defense is in the bottom five in the League.

Advertisement

The rookie quarterback has thrown a touchdown pass in five of his previous six games and should sling at least one TD pass on Sunday.

Browns vs Bengals SGP

• Under 44.5

• Higgins Over 55.5 receiving yards

• Sanders Over 0.5 touchdown passes

Our big-ticket SGP: Go the extra Myle

Myles Garrett is one sack from breaking the All-Time Sack record set by Michael Strahan and T.J. Watt.

Garrett has 22 sacks and has recorded at least one sack in eight of his last 10 games, and has sacked Burrow 11 times in their career.

He’ll likely get his sack, and I’ll also add Higgins to score a TD.

Higgins has found the paint in six of his previous eight games and is my best Bengals choice to hit paydirt.

Advertisement

Browns vs Bengals SGP

• Under 44.5

• Higgins Over 55.5 receiving yards

• Higgins anytime touchdown

• Sanders Over 0.5 touchdown passes

• Garrett Over 0.25 sacks

Browns vs Bengals odds

• Spread: Browns +7.5 | Bengals -7.5

• Moneyline: Browns +310 | Bengals -400

• Over/Under: Over 44.5 | Under 44.5

More NFL picks and odds from Covers

Browns vs Bengals trend to know

[Stat]. Find more NFL betting trends for Browns vs. Bengals.

How to watch Browns vs Bengals

Browns vs Bengals latest injuries

Browns vs Bengals weather

Monitor gametime conditions with our live NFL weather info and learn how weather impacts NFL betting.

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.

Advertisement

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here