Pro Football Week 11 Picks: Cleveland Browns vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Sunday, 11/17/13, 1:00 PM EST
Opening Point Spread: Cincinnati -6
Current Betting Line: Cincinnati -6
Opening Total: 41.5
Current Total: 41.5
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

Cincinnati Bengals QB Andy Dalton has put up some solid numbers against the Cleveland Browns in five career meetings

Cleveland travels to Cincinnati following its bye week, with the franchise having its best start through nine games since 2007 with a 4-5 record, as it allows an NFL-low average of 4.51 yards per play. The Browns rank fifth in the league in allowing 315.7 yards per game, which is important to consider when making your pro football picks, considering they finished 23rd in that category a season ago. The team is averaging 3.4 sacks per game, which is the second-most in the league heading into Week 11. Cleveland is 1-7 SU and 5-2-1 ATS as a road underdog of 3.5 to 7 points the last two-plus seasons.

The Browns are being led offensively by quarterback Jason Campbell, who has not thrown an interception all season. A victory in this particular matchup would give Cleveland its first three-game winning streak against the AFC North since the division was formed in 2002. Campbell’s main target will be wide receiver Josh Gordon, who has 35 receptions for a team-high 626 yards with three touchdowns in seven contests.

Cincinnati returns home after dropping a pair of overtime games, including a 20-17 setback to the Baltimore Ravens as one-point underdogs, but the squad has won the statistical battle in its last three affairs. The Bengals still own a half-game lead in the division, which can’t be ignored when looking over the pro football odds page. Defensively, the team ranks fourth in the league in allowing just 311.4 yards per game, while it sits behind five teams in giving up 18.6 points. Cincinnati is 7-0 SU and 5-1-1 ATS as home favorites of 3.5 to 7 points the last two-plus seasons.

The Bengals are hoping that signal-caller Andy Dalton can continue his strong play in this series, as he’s completed 66.1 percent of his passes for 1,256 yards with eight touchdowns and five interceptions in five meetings. Cincinnati is tied for third in the league for the second straight week in offensive red-zone touchdown percentage.