Cleveland Browns vs Houston Texans Odds, Lines, Spread, and Picks NFL Week 13
- Cleveland is laying 7 points on the road in the Browns vs Texans odds on Sunday in Week 13
- Deshaun Watson will make his Browns debut, starting for the first time since Jan. 3, 2021
- Keep reading for the available Browns vs Texans odds, plus injury news and a bet to target
We are about four weeks away from the launch of Ohio sports betting. Online sportsbooks are set to go live in Ohio on Sunday, January 1, 2023, just in time for the Browns Week 17 matchup in Washington. In the here and now, read on for an analysis of Browns vs Texans.
Fresh off a home victory over Tampa Bay, Cleveland returns to action this Sunday in a game plenty of people have had circled on their calendars.
Deshaun Watson will make his return to an NFL football field in Houston, starting for his new team against his former one. Watson just served an 11-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy, and will quarterback the Browns (4-7, 1-4 away) for the first time since being traded by the Texans (1-9-1, 0-4-1 home) in March.
Needless to say, not everyone is pleased that Watson is back playing, but we won’t dive into that. What we will dive into is how this game shapes up in the Week 13 NFL odds.
Browns vs Texans Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Browns | -7 (-110) | -335 | O 47 (-115) |
| Houston Texans | +7 (-110) | +270 | U 47 (-105) |
Odds as of December 2 at DraftKings Sportsbook Ohio. Get the DraftKings Sportsbook bonus code to bet on NFL Week 13
Cleveland opened up as a 4.5-point favorite in this matchup, but that line did not last long. The Browns have been bet up to -7 and the current action suggests it could go higher. As of Friday, 80% of the spread wagers and 83% of the ATS handle is backing Cleveland.
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Kickoff is scheduled for 1 pm ET in Week 13 inside NRG Stadium, with CBS providing the broadcast coverage nationwide.
Browns vs Texans Betting Analysis
When we last saw him, Watson has one of the top QBs in the league. His 2020 season was a personal best, as he set career highs in passing yards (4,823), completion percentage (70.2%), TD (33), and passer rating (112.4).
He’ll take over a Browns team that has wildly exceeded expectations offensively this season. With Jacoby Brissett under center, Cleveland ranks fourth in offensive DVOA. Their passing game grades out eighth, while only three teams are rated higher on the ground.
With Amari Cooper as his top receiving option, and Nick Chubb out of the backfield, there’s no shortage of playmakers to accompany Watson. The question is, how rusty will he be?
Asked what type of reaction he thought he would get Sunday in Houston, Browns' QB Deshaun Watson said: “I’m not sure. My main focus is on the gameplan and trying to execute so we can win.”
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 1, 2022
Watson hasn’t started a regular season game in 700 days. He wasn’t allowed at the team facility up until a couple weeks ago, and he just started taking first team reps this week. Fortunately for Browns fans, the landing spot couldn’t be softer.
Houston ranks 27th in total defense, and 23rd in points allowed. They’re especially vulnerable against run, grading out 30th in run defense DVOA, while yielding 4.9 yards per carry. Given the presence of Chubb, an All-Pro RB, and the lack of reps for Watson, Cleveland might be wise to run early and often.
NFL Top-5 Ranked Offenses Per DVOA
| Team | Rank |
|---|---|
| Kansas City Chiefs | 1 |
| Miami Dolphins | 2 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 3 |
| Cleveland Browns | 4 |
| Baltimore Ravens | 5 |
As for the Cleveland defense, it had been a weakness up until last week. The Browns had surrendered 70 points in back-to-back losses, but held the Buccaneers to just 17 points and 325 total yards in an OT win.
Cleveland’s D is set up for success against Houston, who is a train wreck offensively. They rank last in offensive DVOA and are now starting journeyman Kyle Allen in place of a struggling Davis Mills.
If there’s a bright spot for the Texans it’s rookie running back Dameon Pierce, who’s on pace for over 1,200 rushing yards.
Browns vs Texans Prediction
Neither team is dealing with injuries that will affect the betting lines. However, Cleveland starting tight end David Njoku (knee), and starting corner Denzel Ward (ankle) look doubtful after not practicing this week. First round rookie Derek Stingly Jr. (hamstring) will sit out for Houston, while number one receiver Brandin Cooks (calf) appears legitimately questionable.
The Browns should be able to have their way with the Texans, but regardless of what happens this will likely be a slow paced slog of a game, with both teams leaning on the run.
The #Browns are undefeated when Nick Chubb has 20+ rushing attempts.
— Nick Pedone (@NickPedone12) November 27, 2022
Watson will surely have some moments, but a run heavy approach is in his and Cleveland’s best interest, and that strategy will bleed the clock dry.
Even if Houston does fall behind and is forced to abandon the run, Kyle Allen isn’t likely to instill very much confidence in over backers. Houston contests are 4-7 to the under this season, and this one should fall short of the total as well.
Pick: Under 47 (-110), 1 unit
2022 NFL Season Picks Record: 7-7, -0.8 units
As SBD's resident Swiss Army Knife, Chris covers virtually every sport including NFL, PGA, NBA, MLB, NCAAB, NCAAF and the Olympics. A true grinder, he'd rather pick off small edges in the player props market than swing for the fences with a 5-leg parlay.
