Bengals vs. Browns odds, betting trends, expert picks and predictions

This is going to be a clash of two AFC North teams desperate for a win. We may look back at the end of the season to see this as a defining point for both teams.

The Cincinnati Bengals are trying to regain their footing they had before their loss to the New York Jets last week. Meanwhile, the Cleveland Browns just watched a dramatic saga unfold that ended with them releasing Odell Beckham Jr. on Friday. They will be looking to prove they are better off without him.

Which team is favored in the first of two matchups of Ohio this year?

Odds

The Bengals are currently 2.5-point favorites against the Browns, according to DraftKings Sportsbook. Usually if two teams are considered even the oddsmakers give the home team roughly a field goal advantage, which puts this mark at about right. Cleveland has won five of the last six matchup, but four of those victories were by eight points or less. These teams have typically found a way to keep things close regardless of the other's record.

Betting trends

• The total has gone under in five of Cincinnati’s last seven games.
• Cincinnati is 4-2 straight up in their last six games.
• The total has gone over in six of Cincinnati’s last seven games against Cleveland.
• The total has gone under in five of Cincinnati’s last seven games at home.
• The total has gone over in five of Cincinnati’s last five games when playing at home against Cleveland.
• Cincinnati is 5-2 straight up in their last seven games against an opponent in the AFC.
• Cincinnati is 4-15 straight up in their last 19 games against an opponent in the AFC North.
• Cincinnati is 2-5 against the spread in their last seven games when playing as the favorite.
• The total has gone under in four of Cleveland’s last six games.
• Cleveland is 2-11 against the spread in their last 13 games against Cincinnati.
• Cleveland is 5-1 straight up in their last six games against Cincinnati.
• Cleveland is 4-1 against the spread in their last 5 games on the road.
• The total has gone over in five of Cleveland’s last five games when playing on the road against Cincinnati.
• Cleveland are 6-14 against the spread in their last 20 games against an opponent in the AFC.
• The total has gone over in four of Cleveland’s last five games against an opponent in the AFC North.
• Cleveland is 6-1 straight up in their last seven games played in November.

Expert predictions

• Seven of ESPN’s 10 experts are taking the Bengals
• CBS Sports has seven of eight experts sticking with Cincinnati
• All nine of the Athletic’s experts are wavering on the Bengals
• NFL Pick Watch, which takes into account picks from across the web, has the Bengals receiving 73 percent of the picks.

It is honestly pretty shocking to see there still be a majority of national media sticking with the Bengals after their letdown against the Jets. It seems their is still some lingering respect from the Baltimore Ravens game on top of the Browns offense seriously struggling the past few weeks. Hopefully this plays out the way the experts expect, and we can all go into the bye week happy.