The Cleveland Browns will look to rebound from a brutal loss when they take to the field on Thursday Night Football. The Browns led by 13 points with less than two minutes remaining in Week 2, only to lose to the New York Jets by a one-point margin. Cleveland will now turn around and play just days later, hosting the Pittsburgh Steelers at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns and Steelers are both 1-1 after Pittsburgh lost a three-pointer to New England in its last court appearance.
Kickoff is at 8:15 p.m. ET in Cleveland. Caesars Sportsbook lists Cleveland as a 4.5-point favorite, while the plus/minus, or total number of runs Vegas thinks it will score, is 38 in the latest Steelers vs. Browns odds. Before making any choices between Browns and Steelers, be sure to check out NFL predictions and betting tips from SportsLine’s proven computer model.
The model, which simulates every NFL game 10,000 times, has grown more than $7,000 for players to $100 on top NFL picks since its inception. The model enters Week 3 of the 2022 NFL season on an incredible 139-102 run on NFL’s top picks that dates back to the 2017 season.
The model has also ranked in the top 10 on NFLPickWatch four of the last six years on NFL direct picks and has beaten more than 94% of CBS Sports Football Pick’em players four times during that time. Anyone who followed him is upstairs.
Now, the model has her sights set on Steelers vs. Browns, and has just locked down her Thursday Night Football picks and predictions. You can head over to SportsLine now to see the model choices. Now, here are several NFL odds and betting lines for Browns vs Steelers:
- Gap between Steelers and Browns: Browns -4.5
- Steelers vs. Browns over/under: 38 points
- Steelers vs. Browns money line: Browns -220, Steelers +180
- PIT: Steelers are 9-10-1 ATS in last 20 games
- CLE: Browns are 8-11 ATS in last 19 games
- Steelers pick vs. Browns: See picks on SportsLine
Featured Game | Cleveland Browns vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Why the Steelers can cover
Pittsburgh has strength, but the Steelers should also benefit from Cleveland’s shortcomings at this point in the season. On offense, Cleveland is below the NFL average in passing yards and yards per attempt, and that plans to continue with Deshaun Watson suspended. On defense, the Browns battled blatantly against the Jets last week, giving up 31 points, and Cleveland is allowing 27.5 points per game. Cleveland is significantly below average in passing yards allowed, passing touchdowns allowed, net yards per pass attempt allowed, and third defense. Pittsburgh is also solid on defense, allowing just 37 points in two games.
The Steelers have a top star in Minkah Fitzpatrick, who already has two steals this season, and Pittsburgh is near the top of the league in steals (five) and turnover creation rate (25%). Opponents are producing just 4.0 yards per rush against the Steelers, and Mike Tomlin has a reputation for having his team ready for tough situations like a short week on the road in the division.
Why the Browns can cover
In addition to home-field advantage, Cleveland has a path to prosperity on both sides of the ball. The Browns are just one turnover in two games and are putting points on the scoreboard. Cleveland leads the league in points on 52.4 percent of offensive drives, and the Browns are in the NFL’s top 10 in points per game and points per possession. The Browns are also averaging 380 total yards per game, with the top five ratings in rushing yards, yards per rushing attempt and rushing touchdowns.
Cleveland is also near the top of the NFL in first down (52) and third down conversion rate (53.3%) on offense. Pittsburgh’s offense also stumbles out of the blocks in 2022, scoring just two offensive touchdowns in two games. The Steelers are No. 30 in the NFL in total yards, No. 31 in first downs, No. 28 in passing yards and No. 31 in net yards per pass attempt. Pittsburgh also averages just 3.8 yards per carry, and Myles Garrett can lead a passing rush in terrorizing Mitch Trubisky and the Pittsburgh passing offense.
How to make choices between Browns and Steelers
SportsLine’s model leans into the total, projecting a combined 40 points scored. The model also indicates that one side of the gap hits in more than 50% of the simulations. You can only see the model’s Steelers vs. Browns picks on SportsLine.
So who wins the Steelers against the Browns on Thursday Night Football? And which side of the spread hits well over 50% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Browns vs. Steelers spread you should jump to, all from the pattern that’s 139-102 on NFL picks, and find out.