NFL Week 16 Preview: Cleveland Browns @ Baltimore Ravens (-13 ½)

Online Betting Overview

Cleveland starting quarterback Colt McCoy looks like he will not be playing in this game. The concussion he sustained against the Steelers in week 15 is still lingering. But that does not mean that all is lost for the Browns in this game. This is the same team that pulled off upset wins over the New Orleans Saints and New England Patriots last season. It is true that former defensive coordinator Rob Ryan had a lot to do with those wins, but the point is that this team is capable of that. According to the price per head sports experts, the Browns are about as long of a shot as a team could be to win this game. But you should never count the Cleveland Browns out, and you should always take the points when the Browns play the Ravens.

The Ravens have one of the best defensive units in the league. This defense may not be quite as dominating as the 2000 defense that won the Super Bowl, but it is very close. This defense was good enough to help Baltimore sweep the Steelers for the first time in a long time. But the pay per head sports analysts are concerned about the Baltimore offense. Head coach John Harbaugh keeps trying to give the ball to quarterback Joe Flacco to be the offensive leader, but it always keeps coming back to running back Ray Rice. Flacco has a habit of throwing interceptions at the worst possible times while Rice scores points. It is a balance that the Ravens are still struggling with.

Cleveland Browns

The Browns are not completely dead in the water for this game just because Colt McCoy is not playing. Backup quarterback Seneca Wallace has plenty of experience and he adds an element of mobility that McCoy does not have. Whatever kind of quarterback the Ravens were planning on playing will be completely different than the quarterback it will get. Don’t forget that running back Peyton Hillis can grind the Baltimore defense into the ground as well. A 5 dimes review of the Cleveland defense shows a team that could give Ray Rice problems, which would put the responsibility of winning the game on to the shoulders of Joe Flacco. That may be the only chance the Browns have of winning this game.

Baltimore Ravens

Even if the Ravens had a chance to rest starters, it probably wouldn’t. There are very few players on the Ravens’ roster that want to be rested and coach Harbaugh is not a big believe in days off either. The Ravens believe in playing the NFL schedule right down to the wire. Besides, the Ravens are still in a battle with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the AFC North title, which means that Baltimore needs this win. So look for the Ravens to throw everything at the Browns in this contest.

The Bottom Line

When the Ravens are turned up to 11, as they are at this point in the season, it is just too much for the Browns to handle. But you may want to take the Browns anyways as the Ravens may not be able to cover that spread. The safe bet is the Ravens.

Pick: Baltimore Ravens

NFL Week 14 Preview: Houston Texans @ Cincinnati Bengals (-3)

Sports Betting Overview

The price per head sports experts started counting the Houston Texans out of the playoff race once starting quarterback Matt Schaub went down for the season. But the fans were still holding on to hope that backup Matt Leinart had those special qualities that head coach Gary Kubiak said Leinart had to be a leader and a quarterback. Leinart was also looking forward to the chance to prove to the Arizona Cardinals, and the rest of the league, the he could play quarterback in the NFL. Part of the way through his first regular season game in over two years, Leinart broke his collarbone and rookie third-string quarterback TJ Yates was in. Yates is 2-0 as an NFL quarterback and 1-0 as a starter. Maybe the Texans know something that the betting experts don’t know.

No matter how many wins the Cincinnati Bengals get this season, the team will never get respect until it beats the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers. The Cincinnati Bengals will also never win the AFC North divisional title until it beats the Steelers and Ravens. So far, Cincinnati has been unable to beat the Ravens and the Steelers, which means the team is working on next season. The numbers being churned out by the bookie software show that Cincinnati rookie quarterback Andy Dalton is slowly improving but still has a lot to learn. But the combination of the Cincinnati offensive line and Dalton seems to be one that can grow together into a very potent unit.

Houston Texans

Even with defensive star Mario Williams out for the season, the Houston Texans’ defense is still able to come to the team’s rescue when things get bad. Rookie quarterback TJ Yates played smart football in the Texans’ week 13 win over the Falcons. He handed the ball to Arian Foster most of the time and when Yates did throw the ball, he did not throw an interception. The betonline sports experts are starting to think that if the Texans can keep playing this way, then Houston can retain its place on top of the AFC and enter the playoffs as the top seed in the AFC. Could Schaub or Leinart come back this season? Schaub may be ready of the Texans get to the AFC championship game. There is nothing to say that the Texans won’t get that far.

Cincinnati Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals are a young team that will be a force to be reckoned with for many years to come if it can stay together. The NFL schedule will always be working against the Bengals because it will have to play the Steelers and Ravens twice each season. Until the Bengals can come out of those four games with a winning record, it will not be considered a playoff contender. But the Bengals do have a chance in this game. Cincinnati’s defense is a better unit that the one in Atlanta that the Texans just ran over. This game will come down to a battle between the Cincinnati offense and Houston defense. This is where Dalton gets his chance to shine.

The Bottom Line

The Texans’ game plan is going to be the same as week 13. Houston will run Ben Tate and Arian Foster while giving TJ Yates only safe passing plays. Since the Texans will be without its starting quarterback at least until the playoffs start, do not be surprised if Kubiak puts in the recently signed veteran quarterback Jeff Garcia to provide an offensive spark.

Pick: Houston Texans