Browns vs Steelers Odds, Lines, and Spread – Week 6
By Robert Duff in NFL Football
Updated: March 9, 2021 at 1:16 pm ESTPublished:
- The Pittsburgh Steelers are 3.5-point home favorites on Sunday against the Cleveland Browns
- Sunday betting record: 1-1 ; -0.09 units
- Cleveland has lost 16 in a row straight up at Pittsburgh
The Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers meet on the football field twice every season but it’s been a long time since they clashed with so much on the line.
Pittsburgh is 4-0 for the first time since 1979 and atop the AFC North Division. Cleveland is 4-1 for the first time since 1994 and a half-game back of the Steelers for the division lead.
Playing Sunday at Heinz Field, the Steelers are listed as 3.5-point home favorites over the Browns. That was also what the line opened at.
Kickoff is set for 1 pm ET on October 18. The forecast is for cloudy skies, 7 mph winds and a 64-degree temperature.
Browns vs Steelers Odds
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Browns | +163 | +3.5 (-110) | O 51 (-110) |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | -190 | -3.5 (-110) | U 51 (-110) |
Odds taken Oct. 17th at DraftKings.
Cleveland hasn’t won straight up at Pittsburgh since 2003.
Big Ben Clocks Browns
After missing most of last season with an elbow injury, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is staking his claim to win NFL Comeback Player of the Year. He’s thrown for 1,014 yards and 10 touchdowns against one interception.
Big Ben’s passer rating rating is 110.4 and he’s completing 69.9% of his passes. That’s bad news for the Browns, a team Roethlisberger has annihilated during his NFL career.
#Browns D-line coach Chris Kiffin said when he was at Colorado State there was a play where he and the D-line chased Ben Roethlisberger for 20 seconds without sacking him.
CLE fans are aware of this pattern with Big Ben— Scott Petrak ct (@ScottPetrak) October 16, 2020
Pittsburgh’s 16-game home win streak against the Browns coincides with Big Ben’s 2004 arrival in the Steel City. An Ohio boy, Roethlisberger was bitter that the Browns didn’t draft him and apparently, he holds grudges for a long time.
Roethlisberger is 23-2-1 lifetime against Cleveland. He’s tossed 40 TD passes against the Browns, tied with Cincinnati for Big Ben’s highest total against any team.
Baker Mayfield has surpassed Ben Roethlisberger as the winningest active QB at First Energy Stadium. pic.twitter.com/ixueAeeIyg
— Nick Karns (@karnsies817) October 11, 2020
In fact, when the Browns beat Indianapolis 32-23 at home last week, it was the 12th win there for Cleveland QB Baker Mayfield. That moves him past Roethlisberger (11) for the most wins by a QB in First Energy Stadium.
Injury Updates
The Browns may limp their way into Heinz Field. Two key pieces to the Cleveland puzzle are ailing. Mayfield (chest) is listed as questionable and wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr (illness) is probable. He tested negative for COVID-19.
Cleveland has placed starting cornerback Greedy Williams on IR. He’s been out all season with a shoulder injury and now the team has revealed that there is some nerve damage.
#Browns Odell Beckham Jr.s' 2nd test came back negative today. He's cleared to face #Steelers
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) October 17, 2020
Wide receiver Jarvis Landry (ribs), center JC Tretter (knee), defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi (abdomen) and defensive end Olivier Vernon (groin) are other starters who are questionable. Guard Wyatt Teller (calf strain), linebacker Jacob Phillips (knee) and strong safety Karl Joseph (hamstring) are starters who are out. Joseph’s backup Ronnie Harrison Jr (concussion) is also out.
The Steelers will be without two starters. Wide receiver Diontae Johnson (back) and guard David DeCastro (abdomen) are out. In Johnson’s absence last week, rookie Chase Claypool caught four TD passes.
Trend Spotting
Pittsburgh is 3-1 against the spread this season, while the Browns are 3-2. The Steelers are 2-1 as a home favorite. Cleveland is 1-1 as a road underdog.
#Browns Kareem Hunt said when he was a kid growing up in Northeast Ohio he would always think about playing at the highest level– in an NFL game– "especially Browns vs. Steelers. It doesn't get much bigger than that."
— Camryn Justice (@camijustice) October 14, 2020
The Browns are 1-7 SU and ATS in their last seven road games. Pittsburgh is 11-2 SU in its last 11 home games against AFC North opponents. The Steelers are 8-1-1 ATS in their last 10 October home games.
Play The Favorite
As sexy as it might be to pick the Browns here, the average margin of victory in Pittsburgh’s 16 home wins over Cleveland is 12.5 points. Pittsburgh’s defense is posting an NFL-leading 12.27 sack rate.
Is this going to be the best Browns-Steelers matchup we've ever seen?? 👀 pic.twitter.com/w1myFZ5BFo
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) October 16, 2020
That’s bad news for Cleveland with Teller out and Mayfield banged up. Pittsburgh is allowing just 3.3 yards per carry. That’s the second-best run defense in the NFL.
Pick: Pittsburgh Stelers -3.5 (-110).Â
Sports Writer
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
