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Ohio Sports Betting Tips – Best Ways to Bet the Bengals, Browns & Cavaliers in Legal OH Betting Market

Matt McEwan

by Matt McEwan in Sports Betting News

Updated Jan 1, 2023 · 10:00 AM PST

Joe Burrow fist pump
Sep 29, 2022; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) walks off the field after their victory over the Miami Dolphins at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports
  • The state of Ohio is now officially able to legally bet on sports online
  • Many sportsbooks launched operations in Ohio on January 1, 2023
  • Before Ohioans get to betting, see the best and most profitable ways to bet each of the Bengals, Browns, and Cavaliers

Welcome to the party, Ohio! As of 12:01am ET on January 1 (2023), the state of Ohio can legally bet on sports online. More than a dozen sports betting apps will be available to Ohioans for Sunday of Week 17 in the NFL, and they all arrive offering some great Ohio sports betting promos.

While claiming these promos is a no-brainer, I’m sure what to do with the signup bonuses is still up in the air for many. So, before you blindly throw your money down on your favorite Ohio team to win their next game, allow me to show you what the most profitable bets on each major Ohio sports team has been so far, the sportsbooks with the best odds for each bet type, and where my money will be in the coming days.

21+ and present in OH. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.

If you want to jump right to one of those teams, you can do so below:

Betting the Cleveland Browns | Betting the Cincinnati Bengals | Betting the Cleveland Cavaliers

Ohio Sports Betting Tips

Before I get into the details for each Ohio team, I wouldn’t feel good if I didn’t preach some sports betting basics that promote responsible betting to ensure you don’t give all that bonus money—and the rest of your bankroll—back to the books. Here are a few quick tips to remember (because none of you have ever placed a bet prior to today, right?!?):

Simply put, don’t bet more than you can afford. Any money that you put into a sportsbook account should be money you are ok losing. You should also avoid risking too much of your bankroll on one event/outcome. Each bet you place should be no more than 5% of your total bankroll (that you began with).

Mute all the so-called “handicappers” on social media promoting 10 unit mega max whale plays. They’re just looking for attention. Establish what a unit is for you and stick to that. If you’re feeling wildly confident in something, I would only recommend going up to 1.5 to two-unit bets.

The first step here is to sign up to a couple different sportsbooks, preferably ones that use different suppliers. For example, all of DraftKings Ohio, Barstool Sportsbook Ohio, and BetRivers Ohio use Kambi. So, the odds you see at those books will likely be similar. If you have one, or more, of those, consider signing up at FanDuel Ohio, Caesars Ohio, and/or BetMGM Ohio as well.

Once you have a couple/few different accounts, you can either shop them all for the best line yourself or find a good odds comparison page. Shameless plug coming up … here is our NFL odds and NBA odds pages which will do the line shopping for you. (We will be adding many more sportsbooks to those two pages in the next month.)

  • Avoid betting with your heart

Many people believe their favorite team will win most, if not all, games. We all should know that is simply not true, though. Don’t lose all your money betting the Cavs to cover every night. I understand the appeal of having a bet on the game you are watching every night, but find other ways to bet your team—or a player from your team—instead of just the moneyline and spread.

What are those other ways? I look into that in the sections below!

Betting the Cleveland Browns

  • Next game: at Washington Commanders on Sunday, January 2

The state of Ohio doesn’t have many more Browns games to bet on this season, as Cleveland has already been eliminated from the playoffs and there are only two more weeks left in the regular season. Their Week 17 opponent is the Washington Commanders, who are clinging onto the final wild card spot in the NFC.

If you are looking to bet the Browns, here are the best places to do so:

The total is between 40.5 and 41, depending where you look. These are the best books to bet the over and under at:

If you want a little justification for backing or laying off any of the above bets, here are a few Browns betting trends this season:

  • The Browns are 2-5 straight up on the road and 1-4 as a road dog
  • The over is 3-2 when the Browns are a road dog
  • Cleveland is 5-3 ATS as an underdog
  • The over is 0-4 in Cleveland games since Deshaun Watson has returned
DRAFTKINGS SPORTSBOOK

Sign Up Today & Receive Up to
$1,050 in Bonuses!

Must be 21+ & present in OH.
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
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If your mind isn’t already made up, here are a couple bets from the Browns game that I believe present value:

  1. Browns moneyline (+113) – the Commanders have not won a game since Week 12 and they are turning the team back over to Carson Wentz on Sunday, who is 2-4 as their starter this season. Plus, my SBD formula says the Browns squeak this one out.
  2. Deshaun Watson under 220.5 passing yards – Watson has only gone over this total in one of his four games this season and is averaging 175.8 passing yards per game. He now faces the seventh-best pass defense in Washington. I don’t think this is where it all comes together for Watson.

Betting the Cincinnati Bengals

  • Next game: vs Buffalo Bills on Monday, January 2

Unlike the Browns, the Bengals will be playing after the regular season wraps up on January 8, as they have clinched a playoff berth. You can see where they stand in our NFL playoff bracket. But their next game comes against the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football of Week 17.

This is another great measuring stick opportunity for the Bengals since the Bills currently have the best odds to win the Super Bowl. Cincinnati is listed as the underdog, but it’s a small spread. If you are looking to back the Bengals on Monday, here are the best places to do so:

The total

If you want some data to base your bet off, which you should, here are some Bengals betting trends from this season:

  • The Bengals are 5-1 straight up at home
  • The Bengals are riding a seven-game winning streak
  • Cincinnati is a league-best 12-3 ATS, and 12-1 ATS since Week 3
  • Cincinnati is 2-0 ATS as an underdog
  • The over is 2-4 in Cincinnati home games & 1-7 in Buffalo road games
DRAFTKINGS SPORTSBOOK

Sign Up Today & Receive Up to
$1,050 in Bonuses!

Excludes MA.
LOCK IN PROMO
SIGNUP PROMO
SIGN UP
& GET $1,050

BONUS BETS + DEPOSIT BONUS

BET NOW

And finally, here are the bets I believe present some value:

  1. Joe Mixon over 23.5 receiving yards – he has gone over in six of last seven and is coming off a nine-target game in Week 16. Buffalo has been pretty good against RBs in the pass game, but I believe they’re going to sell out to stop the likes of Ja’Marr Chase.
  2. Tee Higgins anytime touchdown – Higgins has a touchdown in each of his last four games and has a touchdown in seven of the 13 games where he plays more than ten snaps. He can be found as long as +179 to find the endzone Monday night.

Betting the Cleveland Cavaliers

  • Next game: vs Chicago Bulls on Monday, January 2

Sadly, lines are not available for Monday’s NBA games yet, but we can still dive into some of the more profitable bets on Cavaliers games so far this season. Here are some Cavs betting trends to consider:

  • Cleveland is 16-4 straight up at home
  • The Cavaliers are 13-6-1 ATS at home
  • The total has gone over in 10 of 20 Cleveland home games
BETMGM SPORTSBOOK
Get Up To $1,500 Paid Back in Bonus Bets if You Don't Win
Must be 21+ & present in OH.
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
LOCK IN PROMO
CODE: SBD1500
CODE: SBD1500
SIGNUP PROMO
GET $1,500
BACK

CLAIM OFFER

OH only. 21+. New users and first wager only. Must register with eligible promo code. Bet amount of qualifying wager returned only if wager is settled as a loss. Maximum bet credit $1,500; must be used within 14 days of receipt. See Caesars.com/promos for full terms. Void where prohibited. Know When To Stop Before You Start.® Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER

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