Steelers Betting Favorites vs. Browns in AFC Wild Card Sunday Night

Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam has done the impossible.  To illuminate, he didn’t screw up the first Browns playoff season since 2002.  During his time as owner Haslam has run a dysfunctional franchise.  In fact, it’s been one of the worst in the NFL.  But this year Cleveland earned betting on Super Bowl respect.  Pittsburgh bolted out of the gate in 2020.  There was never any doubt about their Super Bowl credentials.  Late on the Steelers regained board value they were starting to lose.  Veteran quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has carried the offense.  But defense is Pittsburgh’s calling card.

Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers CashBet Wagering Analysis

On this occasion, we have the third matchup of 2020 between these AFC North rivals.  Pittsburgh enhanced their online sportsbook credibility by covering both games.  To be exact the public is just catching on to Cleveland.  Pittsburgh is a traditional NFL power.  With a generational fan base.  The Steelers have six Super Bowl titles.  By contrast, the Browns have never taken the field on Super Sunday.  All of this plays into public gambling perception.  Gamblers are used to the Steelers contending.   Encompassing Cleveland’s reputation is decades of failure.  Sharps see a price that is reasonable on Pittsburgh.

Cleveland’s Playoff Brown-Out Comes to an End  

Last week the Browns beat Pittsburgh 24-22 as 10.5-point chalk.  Over the total of 44.5 paid too.  Cleveland clinched their first playoff berth since 2002 with the win.  As a result, the Browns are 11-5 straight up, 6-10 against the spread, and 9-7 over the total.  The Browns rank 14^th for scoring offense and 21^st for points allowed.  While not a Super Bowl best bet Cleveland is dangerous.

Namely, Nick Chubb powers the offense with 1067 yards rushing. 5.6 yards per rush and 12 touchdowns.  Baker Mayfield posted a 95.9 quarterback rating with 26 touchdown passes.

Steelers Shake off Rush with Profits and Playoffs

Pittsburgh ended the season with back-to-back covers.  The Steelers are champions of the AFC North.  In sum, Pittsburgh is 12-4 straight up, 10-6 against the spread, and 7-7-2 on totals.  Pittsburgh ranks 12^th in the NFL for scoring offense.  And 3^rd for points allowed.  Of major concern is an NFL ranking of dead last for rushing yards.  Defense makes the Steelers a Super Bowl betting favorite.

Ben Roethlisberger posted a 94.1 QB rating with 33 touchdown passes.  Of course, Big Ben missed last year which cost Pittsburgh the playoffs.  Roethlisberger averaged only 6.3 yards per pass.  Naturally, the lackluster ground game added pressure.  As did the lack of a playmaking receiver.

Linebacker TJ Watt leads the Steel Curtain defense.  To show, Watt compiled 15 sacks and 26 tackles for loss.  He added 7 PD’s.  Defensive end Stephon Tuitt added 11 sacks.

Cleveland Browns vs. Pittsburgh Steelers Against the Spread

Fashion that the Browns are 4-6 against the spread as road dogs.  And just 4-8 on the board against the AFC North.  Pittsburgh has covered 19 of their last 32 games.  Against AFC North teams the Steelers are 8-5 vs. the line.  Compared to Cleveland, Pittsburgh has vastly more public support with the Super Bowl betting odds.

In this NFL gambling series, Pittsburgh has covered four of the last five games.  Only one of the last four went over the total.  At Pittsburgh, the Browns haven’t gotten the cash in their last three visits.  And then two of those three games went under the total.

Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers CashBet Free Pick  

To begin with, give Cleveland credit for ending the playoff drought.  However, their defense is a potential NFL gambling liability.  It’s playoff time.  More emphatically the Steelers have the defense to advance.

Browns at Steelers CashBet Best Bet: 

Pittsburgh Steelers