Denver Broncos at Cleveland Browns Week 7 Odds & Pick

Darin Zank
Date: October 21, 8:20 pm
Location: FirstEnergy Stadium
TV: Fox

Betting Odds

Point Spread: DEN +1/CLE -1
Total: 40.5

<p>Two teams struggling through recent weeks meet when the injury-depleted Browns host the Broncos for this week's edition of Thursday night NFL betting action. Cleveland began this sea-son with great expectations after making the playoffs last season but is really hurting and will play this game without several key people. Denver, meanwhile, started 3-0 this season but now owns a three-game losing skid.</p>
<p>The Browns opened as five-point favorites for this game, but that line's dropped through the week with even more bad injury news. Here's our homework on this one, with our <a class="advblue" href="https://www.sportsbettingstats.com/nfl/free-nfl-picks&quot; title="Free NFL Picks ATS For Week 7">free NFL Week 7 pick</a>.</p>
<h2>NFL Betting Lines </h2>
<p>The Week 7 <a class='advblue" 'href="https://www.sportsbettingstats.com/nfl/odds&quot; title="NFL Betting Odds">NFL betting odds</a> opened Cleveland at around -5 for this game, with an over/under of 44. Early betting action then dropped that line two points, to -3, and dipped that total to 42.5.</p>
<h2>Denver Betting Preview </h2>
<p>Denver is 3-3 on the season after losing at home to the rival Raiders last week 34-24. The Bron-cos gave up a long Las Vegas touchdown three minutes into the game, tied the score at 7-7 a few moments later but trailed 17-7 at the half. Denver gave up the first seven points of the second half and later trailed 31-10 before scoring two meaningless touchdowns in the fourth quarter to make the final score a bit more respectable.</p>
<p>The Broncos only got out-gained by the Raiders 426-421, but a big chunk of Denver yardage came in catch-up mode after falling behind by three scores. The Broncos also lost the turnover battle 4-0.</p>
<p>Denver started this season 3-0, beating three teams - the Giants, Jaguars, and Jets - who are a combined 3-14. The Broncos then lost to Baltimore 23-7, to Pittsburgh 27-19, and now to Las Vegas.</p>
<p>At 3-3 overall, Denver is tied for third place in the tight AFC West with Kansas City, one game behind the Chargers and Raiders.</p>
<h2>Cleveland Betting Preview</h2>
<p>Cleveland, meanwhile, is also 3-3 after falling at home to undefeated Arizona last week 37-14. The Browns fell down to the Cardinals 20-0 early in the second quarter but pulled to within 23-14 at the half thanks to a successful Hail Mary. But Cleveland came up completely empty in the second half in suffering its second straight loss.</p>
<p>The Browns got out-gained by Arizona 352-290, out-rushed 144-73, and lost both time of pos-session by a 35:25 split and the turnover battle 3-0.</p>
<p>Cleveland had out-gained and out-rushed each of its first five opponents this season - but not last week, with guys dropping like flies.</p>
<p>Two weeks ago, the Browns blew a 27-13 lead and lost to the Chargers 47-42.</p>
<p>At 3-3 overall, Cleveland is tied for third place in the AFC North with Pittsburgh, two games behind first-place Baltimore.</p>
<p>On the personnel front, the Browns will play this game without their starting quarterback, top two running backs, and two starting tackles. Back-up Case Keenum, who took Minnesota to a conference championship game just three seasons ago, will get the start behind center for Cleve-land Thursday.</p>
<p>Broncos-Browns Recent History</p>
<p>These two teams, who played a couple of huge games back in the 1980s, have split two meetings over the last three seasons. Most recently, two years ago, the Broncos beat the Browns 24-19 out at Mile High. Mayfield quarterbacked Cleveland that day against Brandon Allen for Denver.</p>
<h2>NFL Betting Trends</h2>
<p>Home teams are just 41-50 SU, 37-54 ATS in the NFL this season. However, that sounds like a trend about due for a correction.</p>
<p>Favorites are 58-36 SU but only 43-51 ATS in the NFL this season.</p>
<p>Over the last season-plus, Thursday night home teams are just 9-11 SU and 5-15 ATS.</p>
<h2>Totals Report </h2>
<p>Unders are 4-2 in Broncos games this season, which are averaging just 39 total points.</p>
<p>Overs are 4-2 in Browns games this season, which are averaging 51 points.</p>
<p>After going 7-5 last week, Unders are 50-42 in the NFL this season.</p>

Broncos vs. Browns Week 7 Prediction ATS

Cleveland is down five key guys, and possibly more; maybe the Browns should file for a contin-uance. Denver's hurting, too, just not as much. However, we like Keenum, and we like that Cleveland defense, and sometimes when things get tough, teams rally around themselves and give good efforts. We won't be surprised if the Browns do something like that here. We like Cleveland, a home team giving a short spread, for our free football pick for Thursday night.

 

Free Pick: Take Cleveland -1
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