NFL Week 14 Picks: Cleveland Browns vs. New England Patriots

Cleveland Browns vs. New England Patriots
Sunday, 12/8/13, 1:00 PM EST
Opening Point Spread: New England -10.5
Current Betting Line: New England -10
Opening Total: 45
Current Total: 47
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

Patriots Jets AFC Playoff Preview — The New England Patriots have dominated opponents in December in recent years

Cleveland has dropped three games in a row, including a 32-28 setback to the Jacksonville Jaguars as 7.5-point home favorites last Sunday, while going OVER the betting total for the fourth time in five contests. The Browns will send out Jason Campbell under center, as he was cleared to practice following a concussion, which is important to consider when making your NFL betting picks. His main target will be wide receiver Josh Gordon, who has 623 receiving yards in his last three games. Cleveland is 3-1 ATS as a road underdogs of 10.5 to 14 points the last two-plus seasons.

The Browns will certainly be challenged in trying to move the football through the air, considering the Patriots are 10th in the league in pass defense, but Campbell has thrown six touchdowns and three interceptions in his last four appearances on the field. Cleveland has dropped five consecutive road games in this series, but did manage to pick up a 34-14 victory over New England as four-point home underdogs in the last meeting on Nov. 7, 2010.

New England has won back-to-back games by scoring 34 points in each, as it has secured its 13th straight season with a winning record, which can’t be ignored when looking over the pro football odds page. The Patriots own the NFL’s best December mark since 2001 with a 46-6 record, as it looks to improve to 3-0 against the Browns at Gillette Stadium. New England is 5-1 SU and 2-4 ATS as home favorites of 10.5 to 14 points the last two-plus seasons, with no clear edge in terms of the betting total (3-3 Over/Under).

The Patriots have been outscored 34-7 in the first quarter of their past three games, but they’ve held a 133-56 edge after halftime in their last five contests. New England quarterback Tom Brady has thrown for 715 yards and five touchdowns with one interception in his last two affairs, with this main target being wide receiver Julian Edelman, who has grabbed 18 catches for 211 yards over that span.