Cleveland Browns vs Pittsburgh Steelers Betting Pick & Prediction 12/8/24
The Browns and Steelers will kick off at 1:00 ET on Sunday, December 8th at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh. The Steelers are favored at -280 on the money line as they look to improve their record. Cleveland, the underdog at +222, is looking to add a win to their record. The Browns are +6 point underdogs on the road, and the over/under line is set at 43 points. CBS will broadcast this week 14 AFC North matchup.
CLEVELAND BROWNS VS PITTSBURGH STEELERS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Cleveland Browns +6
This game will be played at Acrisure Stadium at 1:00 ET on Sunday, December 8th.
WHY BET THE CLEVELAND BROWNS:
- We have the Steelers winning this one by a score of 23 to 18
- Even though we like the Steelers to win, our ATS pick is to take the Browns at +6
- We see this game finishing below the line of 43 points
Will The Browns Pull Off An Upset As Road Underdogs
Heading into week 14, the Browns are 3-9 and rank 19th in our NFL power rankings. They have a -7.5 scoring margin and are 4-8 against the spread. Cleveland is 0-4 ATS as favorites and 4-4 as underdogs. Their O/U record is 6-6, with the over hitting in three straight games.
After snapping a four-game losing streak with a week 12 win over the Steelers, the Browns couldn’t keep the momentum going, losing 41-32 to the Broncos in week 13. They were unable to cover the 6.5-point spread, and the 73 combined points easily went over the 41.5-point line.
Heading into week 14, the Browns rank 31st in our offensive power rankings. They are 28th in the NFL in points per game, averaging 18.2, and 22nd in yards per game, with 314.1. Cleveland ranks 2nd in the league in passing attempts per game, with 39.2, and 13th in passing yards, averaging 226.8 per game. On the ground, they are 25th in rushing attempts and 30th in rushing yards per game, with 87.2. The Browns have struggled on 3rd down, converting just 29.2% of their attempts, which ranks 31st in the NFL. However, they lead the league in red zone conversion percentage.
In week 13, Jameis Winston threw for 497 yards and 4 touchdowns, with 3 interceptions, on 34/58 passing. Jerry Jeudy had 9 catches for 235 yards and a touchdown, while Jerome Ford led the team in rushing with 41 yards on 9 carries. Cleveland scored in every quarter, putting up 7 points in the 1st, 10 in the 2nd, 8 in the 3rd, and 7 in the 4th. They converted 9 of 19 3rd downs and scored on 3 of 4 red zone trips.
In their 41-32 loss to the Broncos, the Browns’ defense gave up 294 passing yards on just 18 completions. They also allowed a big day on the ground, giving up 106 rushing yards on 26 attempts. Despite not allowing any sacks, the Browns did manage to force two interceptions in the game.
Opposing quarterbacks completed just 51.4% of their passes against the Browns, but they struggled to get off the field, allowing the Broncos to convert on 46.2% of their third down attempts. Cleveland’s defense also gave up 8.4 yards per attempt in the passing game.
Are The Steelers Going To Defend Home Field Advantage?
With a 9-3 record, the Steelers sit atop the AFC North and are 3rd in the AFC. Our projections give them a 99.1% chance of making the playoffs and a 71.2% chance of winning their division. Pittsburgh ranks 9th in our NFL power rankings heading into week 14.
After losing to the Browns in week 12, the Steelers bounced back with a 44-38 win over the Bengals in week 13. They were 3-point underdogs in that game, bringing their ATS record to 9-3. They are 5-0 against the spread as underdogs this season. Their O/U record is 7-5, with the over hitting in their last two games.
Russell Wilson has been on fire for the Steelers, throwing for 414 yards and 3 touchdowns in week 13, following his 270-yard performance in week 12. In week 11, he had 205 yards. Against the Bengals, Wilson posted a passer rating of 126, completing 29 of 38 passes. George Pickens led the receiving corps with 74 yards on 3 catches, while Najee Harris rushed for 75 yards on 16 carries.
Heading into week 14, the Steelers rank 16th in our offensive power rankings. They are 9th in points per game (24.7) and 14th in yards per game, averaging 344. Pittsburgh leans heavily on the run, with 33.6 rushing attempts per game, ranking 2nd in the NFL. They are 20th in passing yards per game, with 210.9, and 13th in 3rd-down conversions, converting 39.2% of their attempts.
In their 44-38 win over the Bengals, the Steelers’ defense gave up 282 yards through the air, with Cincinnati completing 73.7% of their passes. Despite this, the Steelers still came out on top. The Bengals had success running the ball, gaining 93 yards on just 15 attempts. Pittsburgh’s defense also allowed three passing touchdowns and let the Bengals convert on 50% of their third down attempts.
Pittsburgh’s defense did manage to come up with four sacks and one interception. Even though they allowed 375 total yards, the Steelers’ defense made key plays to help secure the win.