The Pittsburgh Steelers (8-2) and Cleveland Browns (2-8) will face off on Thursday Night Football with kickoff set for 8:15 p.m.
The Steelers are favored by 3.5 points over the Browns (Steelers -3.5).
Let’s get into my Steelers vs. Browns picks and NFL predictions for Thursday Night Football.
Steelers vs. Browns Odds, Pick, Prediction Steelers vs. Browns spread: Steelers -3.5 (-110), Browns +3.5 (-110) Steelers vs. Browns total: Over/Under 36.5 points scored Steelers vs. Browns moneyline: Steelers -190, Browns +160 Steelers vs. Browns best bet: Lean Browns +3.5 My Browns vs. Steelers pick leans toward Cleveland against the spread.
My Pick: Lean Browns +3.5 Steelers vs. Browns Preview We could be in for some freezing weather with a potential mix of rain and snow for tonight’s game.
Thursday Night Football will feature the Cleveland Browns (2-8) and Pittsburgh Steelers (8-2) with kickoff scheduled for 8:15 p.m. M. Eastern Time from Cleveland’s Huntington Bank Field. Prime Video will stream the match live.
The Browns are trailing the Steelers by 3 points and 5 points (Steelers -3.5). Inclement weather is predicted for Cleveland tonight, and the game total over/under is 36point 5 points. Cleveland has a moneyline of +160 to pull off the upset, while Pittsburgh is -190 to win outright.
After defeating the Ravens 18–16 last week, the Steelers have now won five in a row. Russell Wilson is the starting quarterback for Pittsburgh, who are scoring 27 points per game on average. Last week, the Saints defeated the Browns 35–14. Jameis Winston had a great first two weeks as the starting quarterback, but he has had a terrible two weeks since.
Now let’s discuss my Steelers vs. NFL predictions and the Browns’ picks for Thursday night football.
Steelers vs. Pick, Prediction, and Browns Odds.
Steelers vs. Steelers -3.5 (-110), Browns +3.5 (-110) is the spread.
Steelers vs. The Browns scored 5 points, which is over/under 36 points.
Steelers vs. Browns moneyline: +160, Steelers -190.
Steelers vs. The best pick for the Browns is Lean Browns +3.5.
My Browns against… Cleveland is the pick that the Steelers lean toward against the spread. Our live NFL odds page will help you find the best lines for all of your NFL wagers.
Steelers vs. Brown’s Forecasts.
Disperse.
Given that some books have dropped the total to 36.5 on Wednesday due to potentially unfavorable weather conditions, this game may end up being lower scoring. Both teams will probably adopt fairly conservative game plans and rely even more on their run games. Gaining 3 points and 5 points with the Browns could be valuable in a game where points could be scarce.
But if it comes down to kickers, the Steelers have a distinct advantage. This season, Chris Boswell has been almost flawless, going 9 out of 10 from 50 yards or more and 29 out of 30 overall. Dustin Hopkins, the kicker for the Browns, missed both of his field goal attempts last week, including an indoor chip shot that was 27 yards long.
The Browns’ defeat last week was exasperating because they were unable to find answers for Taysom Hill and Marquez Valdes-Scantling. Also, Mike Tomlin hasn’t done well here in the past; when on a winning streak, he’s only 17-28 against the spread as a road favorite. The Steelers might be in for a disappointment after their thrilling victory over the Ravens.
The current lean is Browns +3.5, but I hold off on making any commitments until I have a better understanding of the weather and injury report. You’ll be able to see whether I wager on a side or the total first if you follow me on the Action App. For this Thursday afternoon matchup, I will undoubtedly have a player prop prepared.
moneyline.
Since we’re getting more than the crucial number of three, if I were betting on the Browns, I would take the points.
Under/Over.
I project the total at 37, but I have no say in it.
Lean Browns +3.5 is my pick.
Steelers vs. Preview of the Browns.
For tonight’s game, we might be in for some freezing temperatures along with a possible mix of rain and snow. Even though it’s still unclear how important the weather will be—it’s the weather, after all—this gives our handicapping an unpredictable twist.
We need a better understanding of how conditions might affect the game, so in cases like this, I usually try to avoid locking in any bets too soon. With the knowledge that changes might be required as the weather picture becomes more clear, I will nevertheless break down the matchup to lay the groundwork for what each team’s strategy is likely to be.
Expect Najee Harris to have a lot of work if the weather does become an issue. Tomlin made it clear that he prefers to rely on Harris in inclement weather following the Ravens’ victory in Week 18 of the previous season. He carried the ball 26 times for 112 yards and a touchdown in that game, so don’t be shocked if this game follows a similar pattern.
In a mix of rain and snow, Russell Wilson’s passing style might not be the best. Wilson has thrown more passes that remain in the air for 2 point5+ seconds than any other quarterback since 2016, according to NextGenStats, but that approach is riskier in bad weather. The Steelers may decide to play a more conservative game plan as a result of his reliance on deep balls, even though he has experience playing in wet conditions from his time in Seattle.
Additionally, there are some important matchups in this game that may affect how both teams approach the passing game. In addition to leading the league in ball hawk rate and permitting the second-lowest completion rate (44 percent) out of 117 qualified CBs, Browns CB Denzel Ward has been outstanding this season. He can definitely slow down the lightning-fast George Pickens, and Mike Williams, another downfield threat, might be harder to get many targets in this setting.
The Steelers may try to use Justin Fields’ rushing prowess to give their offense a new dimension in light of these considerations. Since he contributed two rushes for 17 yards last week, offensive coordinator Arthur Smith has alluded to giving him more plays. If both teams decide to play a more run-heavy, conservative style of play, especially if the weather is a real factor, I can see Fields getting more snaps at this position.
The Browns’ offense has significantly improved since Jameis Winston replaced Deshaun Watson. This season, Winston is ranked 16th in EPA per dropback, which is a considerable improvement over Watson’s 35th-place ranking out of 36 quarterbacks.
Since Winston started, the Browns have given up the sixth-lowest pressure rate, which is a significant improvement over the fifth-highest rate they had earlier in the season. A few weeks ago, Wyatt Teller and Jack Conklin, two important offensive linemen, returned, which coincided with the drop in pressure rate. The offensive line has benefited from being closer to full health.
T is a formidable opponent for the offensive line this week. J. . Watts. But the Browns should have an easier time double teaming Watt because edge rusher Alex Highsmith has already been ruled out with an ankle sprain.
If bad weather turns out to be a problem, the Browns will likely rely a lot on Nick Chubb and Jerome Ford in the backfield. Given his enormous rushing potential, we might also see the Browns use backup quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson in a manner akin to the Steelers’ use of Justin Fields. Should the weather become a major problem, both teams have alternatives.
Lean Browns +3 points 5 is my pick.
Steelers vs. Trends in Browns betting.
Steelers Patterns.
In their previous five games against the spread, the Steelers have a 4-1 record.
When playing on the road, the Steelers are 4-1 against the spread.
In three of the last five Steelers games, the totals have gone over.
Trends in Browns.
In their previous five games against the spread, the Browns have a 2-3 record.
In three of the last five Browns games, the totals have gone over.
In two of the Browns’ previous five home games, the totals have gone over.
injuries to the Steelers.
PlayerStatusDB: Cory Trice Jr. LB Alex Highsmith is out with a hamstring injury and an ankle injury.
Brown’s injuries.
