Browns vs. Bengals: NFL Week 1 Picks & Player Prop Bets (2023)

Introducing the Week 1 edition of the BettingPros primer, brought to you by Bettingpros.com! I’m Andrew Erickson, and I’m here to guide you through each game on the NFL slate, offering insights and recommendations on sides, totals, and player props that you can quickly turn into a big single-game parlay. Whether you’re a seasoned bettor or just dipping your toes into the world of NFL wagering - I know that I am for the first time now that my state has legalized wagering - this primer is designed to provide you with valuable perspectives and picks for the upcoming NFL week of action. Get ready to tackle the NFL season with a betting lens as we break down the Week 1 matchups and identify our favorite bets and picks. Stay tuned for an exciting journey through the world of NFL betting - it’s time to elevate your game! Here are my top picks for all remaining Week 1 games. And below I offer my top picks and player prop bets for Browns vs. Bengals.

NFL Betting Primer: Browns vs. Bengals

Cleveland Browns (CLE) vs. Cincinnati Bengals (CIN) – Spread: CLE +2.5

The Browns are playing in front of their home crowd, gearing up for a better season from quarterback Deshaun Watson. The former Texans QB struggled last season with so much time away from the game due to a lengthy suspension. Meanwhile, the Bengals have been without Joe Burrow for virtually the entire offseason, as he's been rehabbing a calf injury. The close spread is also heavily considering the Bengals' struggles versus the Browns, as they have lost 3 of their last four matchups against their AFC North rivals. However, the Bengals won the most recent game 23-10. And the game they lost in late October, Cincy was without star WR Ja'Marr Chase. It was his first game last year that he missed, so it's possible the Bengals just weren't as prepared as they should have been without him. The Bengals are my long-term bet to win the Super Bowl this year, and I think their success starts here in Week 1. Excluding their loss in the AFC Championship game, the Bengals haven't lost a game with a healthy Chase since Week 5 of the 2022 regular season. And all of their 14 wins – and technically all their 13 wins in 2021 - have been won by at least a three-point margin.

As for props, I like going toward the over on Watson's 23.5 rushing yards prop. He averaged nearly 30 rushing yards per game last season and was frequently scrambling during the preseason. With the potential that this game shoots out - third-highest total on the slate - Watson should fly over this number with plenty of dropback opportunities. The BettingPros prop bet analyzer has Watson projected for 28.4 rushing yards, putting him comfortably over the betting line.

My pick: Bengals - 2.5 (-110 DraftKings Sportsbook)
My props: Deshaun Watson OVER 23.5 rushing yards (-110 DraftKings Sportsbook)

What is Betting Against the Spread?

Betting "against the spread" refers to the act of choosing the winning team based on a numeric handicap placed on the team that oddsmakers believe is superior, rather than picking the outright winner. For example, if the Rams face the Bengals, and oddsmakers set the spread at Rams -3.5, you would need Los Angeles to win by 4 or more points in order to cash your Rams bet.

What is an Over/Under Bet?

Over/Under is a wager based on how many points you think will be scored in a specific game. Oddsmakers set the total, and bettors decide whether the final score will be higher or lower than that number. If an Over/Under is set at 44.5 points and you bet Over, you will need the combined score of both teams to be 45 points or higher to win your bet.

What is a Moneyline Bet?

A moneyline bet involves choosing which team you believe will win a specific matchup. The moneyline favorite carries a minus designation, like -130. This means that you need to wager $130 to earn a $100 profit. Conversely, the underdog carries a plus designation, like +110. This means that you win $110 in profit on a $100 bet.