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Week 16: Cleveland Browns vs. Baltimore Ravens Preview & Free Pick

Browns vs Ravens NFL Betting Preview

There is no love lost between the Cleveland Browns and the Baltimore Ravens. As time passes, the rest of the NFL may forget that Art Modell took the Browns to Baltimore, but the city of Cleveland doesn’t forget.

Kyle Hunter
Kyle Hunter

Ever since Cleveland got another NFL team, this has been a hard fought rivalry game. Cleveland has had a season to forget, but they’d love to spoil the Ravens party. Baltimore is tied atop the AFC North with the Steelers.

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Cleveland Browns (4-10) vs. Baltimore Ravens (10-4)
Time/Date: 1:00 PM EST, December 24, 2011
Venue: M&T Bank Stadium
Broadcast: CBS
Browns vs. Ravens Gambling Odds from 5Dimes
Spread: Ravens -13
Moneyline: Ravens (-650) Colts (+535)
Over/Under: 38.5

Colt McCoy has been diagnosed with a concussion, and he is not expected to play this weekend. In fact, McCoy’s season may be over at this point. Seneca Wallace is expected to get the start at quarterback in place of McCoy. Wallace played well in last week’s overtime loss to the Cardinals. Wallace threw for 223 yards and a touchdown. He also didn’t commit a turnover. Peyton Hillis has been injured much of this season, but he seems to be fully healthy at this point. Hillis is a tough runner who fights for every yard. Last week he picked up 99 yards on the ground. Overall, this offense is lacking play makers. The Browns are scoring just 13.9 points per game.

Cleveland’s defense has actually been pretty good this year. This unit has kept the team in the game when the offense has done virtually nothing. Joe Haden is the leader of a great young secondary. Cleveland ranks third in the NFL in pass defense. The Browns need to find a way to get more pressure on the opposing quarterback. This unit is allowing 19.6 points per contest. [soliloquy id=”82219″]

Baltimore’s offense has been mediocre this season. Joe Flacco is having the worst season of his career statistically. Flacco is completing just 57% of his passes, and he has already thrown 11 interceptions. Ray Rice is showing why he is one of the league’s top tailbacks. Rice already has 1,086 yards on the ground this year. He also leads the team with 71 receptions. Having a versatile player in the backfield is a major weapon for this Ravens offense. Anquan Boldin isn’t putting up huge numbers, but he is having a better year than he did last season. The Ravens offense is putting up 23.9 points per game.

The strength of this Baltimore team is their ultra-talented defense. Terrell Suggs is piling up the sacks at an amazing rate. He has 13 sacks through 14 games this year. He has also forced six fumbles already this season. Ray Lewis may not be the player he once was, but he still leads the team in tackles with 58. Haloti Ngata gives the team a dominating defensive tackle that attracts a double team almost all the time. The secondary has improved quite a bit this year. Ed Reed is still one of the best safeties in the league, and LaDarius Webb has really stepped up as a great cover corner. This is one of the best defenses in the NFL.

I don’t see the Browns putting up many points at all in this one. Cleveland’s defense will fight hard, and I think this game will stay under the posted total.

Free NFL Pick: Under 38.5

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By Kyle Hunter

Kyle Hunter sports picks – A degree in finance and a great ability to follow important trends and statistics set him apart from the rest. Totals are Kyle's specialty, so look for a lot of totals picks from NBA, NCAAF, & the NFL. Check out his plays today.