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Steelers vs Browns Picks, Odds & Preview – Cleveland Aims to Halt 0-5-1 ATS Slide

Daniel Coyle

by Daniel Coyle in NFL Football

Updated Apr 3, 2020 · 3:06 PM PDT

Browns Quarterback Baker Mayfield
Quarterback Baker Mayfield has been unable a kick start a Cleveland Browns offense that has scored an average of just 19 points per game this season. Photo by Erik Drost (Wiki Commons).
  • The Cleveland Browns halted a four-game losing streak with last week’s 19-16 win over Buffalo
  • The Browns have failed to produce an ATS win in their past five contests
  • The Pittsburgh Steelers have returned to playoff contention with four straight wins

The Cleveland Browns (3-6, 1-3 home) will be looking to string together consecutive wins for the first time this season when they host the Pittsburgh Steelers (5-4, 1-2 road) on Thursday Night Football as 2.5-point favorites in the Week 11 NFL odds.

NFL Week 11 – Steelers vs Browns Odds

Team Spread Moneyline Total
Pittsburgh Steelers +2.5 (+101) +130 Ov 41 (-109)
Cleveland Browns -2.5 (-119) -150 Un 41 (-109)

Odds taken Nov. 13.

Browns Falling Short of Expectations

Preseason favorites in the odds to win the AFC North at +120, the Browns have fallen far short of those lofty expectations while stumbling to the 3-6 SU record they take into Thursday night’s Steelers vs Browns matchup at FirstEnergy Stadium.

In addition to their disappointing SU record, which leaves them mired in third-place in the divisional standings, the Browns have failed to reward bettors with an against the spread win over their past six, going a dismal 0-5-1 ATS during that stretch.

Losing to Steelers an Annual Tradition

Offensive production has been a massive problem for Cleveland, with the Browns offense averaging 19 points per game (26th) while topping 20 points on just three occasions so far this season.

With the Browns’ poor performance has come lower expectations. The point total has been getting lower in Cleveland games, opening at 43 or lower in each of the team’s past three outings. That has made for mixed results in totals betting with the UNDER going an unpredictable 3-3 in the Browns’ past six games.

But perhaps the biggest challenge facing the Browns is their dismal record in recent clashes with Pittsburgh. Cleveland has come away with the SU win in just four of 37 regular-season meetings with the Steelers since September 2000, and currently finds itself stuck in a 0-7-1 SU run since 2014.

Not surprisingly, the Browns’ offensive struggles extend to their epic slump against Pittsburgh, with Cleveland averaging just 12.9 points per game while going 3-14-1 in its past 18 home dates with the Steelers.

Steelers Vie for Fifth Straight Win

While the Browns have failed miserably in their bid to rewrite a historically dismal narrative, the Steelers travel to Cleveland on a high after extending their win streak to four games with last weekend’s 17-12 victory over the visiting Los Angeles Rams.

Written off following a season-ending injury to quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, the Steelers have rebounded from a 0-3 start with wins in five of six contests to seize control of the second AFC Wild Card. Pittsburgh’s resurgence is reflected in the NFL futures, where they have vaulted to a +500 bet to finish atop the AFC North standings after bottoming out at a lengthy +1200 in early October.

Fitzpatrick Bolstering Pittsburgh Defense

A stingy defense has been key to the Steelers’ resurgence. The squad has allowed just 16 points per game during its 5-1 run, which has featured a trio of outright wins as betting underdogs. The acquisition of safety Minkah Fitzpatrick in a September trade with Miami has proven to be huge for the Steelers.

The 22-year-old has blossomed in Pittsburgh, climbing to the top of the NFL leaderboard with five interceptions. He has scored a defensive touchdown in each of the past two games. Fitzpatrick’s performance has now earned him a spot in the NFL Defensive Player of the Year odds, where he is pegged as an intriguing +1500 bet.

Steady Offense Likely Enough to Get Past Browns

The Steelers offense has also produced steady, if not spectacular, results. With second-year pivot Mason Rudolph under center in place of Big Ben, the Steelers have averaged 24 points per game over their past six outings (though some of that has come from the defense). Even so, it should prove sufficient to get past this Browns squad in disarray.

Picks: Steelers +2.5 (+101), OVER 41 (-109)

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