TNF Best Bets: Broncos vs. Browns Expert Picks & Predictions
The Cleveland Browns host the Denver Broncos on Thursday Night Football. Find out what our experts think about the Browns’ injuries and get their best bets at online sportsbooks.
Browns vs. Broncos Best Bets, Expert Picks
Case Keenum o215.5 passing yards (-110), PointsBet
By Nick Galaida
The Cleveland Browns are going to be without both Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt in the backfield on Thursday night. They are also going to be without at least one member of their starting offensive line. Case Keenum is a capable backup quarterback, who played well as a starter in Minnesota. Missing the top two running backs on the roster, coupled with the fact that the Broncos are allowing the fourth-fewest yards-per-carry in the NFL this year should mean plenty of passing plays for Keenum. If Cleveland is trailing in this contest, it only increases the likelihood of him hitting the over in this spot.
Noah Fant Over 3.5 Receptions (-148), FanDuel Sportsbook
By Dan Gaspar
The juice on this over is currently unappealing so I don’t mind the idea of waiting until closer to kickoff to see if we can get some movement in our favor. Regardless of who is under center for the Broncos, Fant should continue to operate as the de facto WR2 in this offense. Fant has seen double-digit targets in two of the last three games and has caught four or more balls in four of his six games played this season. Further helping his cause is the absence of Browns rookie LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah who is tied for the most pass breakups among rookie defenders this season.
Cleveland Browns -1.5 Against the Spread, Caesars
By Matt Schmitto
It’s not surprising that nearly 75% of the betting handle at sportsbooks is on the Denver Broncos just hours before kickoff. The Browns have endured injury after injury, and now most bettors are asking themselves how a backup quarterback, along with backup linemen and third and fourth-string string running backs, are favored ahead of Thursday Night Football. The line suggests one of two things: 1) Case Keenum isn’t as much of a downgrade as people think, and 2) the Broncos aren’t a very good football team. Might oddsmakers have a point?
Looking closer at the matchup, some problems indeed seem to be on the horizon for Denver despite Cleveland’s injury woes. Denver’s defense just gave up 27 points to Ben Roethlisberger and 34 to Derek Carr. That’s not the kind of defense we thought Vic Fangio was putting forth seven weeks week ago. Additionally, the Broncos offensive line has not sufficiently protected their own quarterback, Teddy Bridgewater, which is one of the reasons he was on this week’s injury report and won’t be 100% even if he starts as expected. The Raiders managed to hit Bridgewater 17 times en route to five sacks less than a week ago. Now the Broncos go on the road to face a ferocious pass rush, led by Myles Garrett, that ranks fourth in pressure create and third in sack rate when not blitzing. I know it’s not easy to back the Browns but I expect them to win outright.
Image Credit: Imagn