The Cleveland Browns are playing like they’re not the Cleveland Browns we have become familiar with. But can they sustain their two-game win streak against the Houston Texans, who are also on an unbeaten run themselves, albeit a more impressive one? The sportsbook favors the Texans by 6-points going into the weekend. The Browns are +10,000 to win the AFC North, while the Texans have odds of +1,800 to have a Super Bowl parade in Houston next year.
Baker Mayfield has been a new and improved version of himself ever since the Browns kicked out Hue Jackson out of Cleveland. In games after Week 8’s 33-18 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs at home, Mayfield has registered a 129.5 passer rating, second best in the NFL during that span, with New Orleans Saints’ Drew Brees having a better clip. In last week’s 35-20 road win over the Cincinnati Bengals, Mayfield sprayed the field with four touchdowns with zero interceptions on 19-of-26 completions. He found different receivers for each of his touchdowns, which was a good sign heading into a matchup with Houston’s defense that the Browns should keep guessing. That said, Browns star wide receiver Jarvis Landry needs to resurface after only having 30 receiving yards on three catches against the Bengals. Landry has been unproductive lately, as he had not reached past 50 receiving yards in each of his last four games.
On the season so far, the Browns are 1-4 straight up (SU) but 3-2 against the spread (ATS) when playing on the road.
Betting on the Houston Texans (8-3)
Let’s spend a minute to talk about Texans running back Lamar Miller. The veteran tailback was unconscious in last Monday’s 34-17 home win against the Tennessee Titans, as he amassed 162 rushing yards and a touchdown on 12 carries. He made a bulk of those yards when he ripped a ridiculous 97-yard touchdown run. With momentum on his side, Miller could test Cleveland’s run defense right out of the gate. After all, the Browns have one of the worst defenses in the league against the run, as they are allowing 131.8 rushing yards per game. Cincinnati also poured in a total of 255 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries versus Cleveland last Sunday. Miller’s big Monday night also came at the same time Deshaun Watson had a good game himself, passing for 210 yards and two touchdowns with no errors on 19-of-24 completions. As for the Texans’ defense, it sent a strong message to Cleveland’s porous offensive line when Houston sacked Marcus Mariota six times for a loss of 43 yards.
When playing at home this season, the Texans are 4-1 SU but 2-3 ATS.
