The 2024 NFL playoffs will kick off on Saturday, January 13, at NRG Stadium, where the Houston Texans will host the Cleveland Browns. The Texans are one of the biggest surprises this season after the team conquered the AFC South title with a rookie quarterback.
However, the Browns' story is equally compelling. They made the playoffs with veteran QB Joe Flacko replacing the injured Deshaun Watson. Top sports betting apps see the Browns as a 2.5-point favorite for this matchup. This decision might be influenced by the fact that the Browns defeated the Texans 36-22 on December 24, 2023. Yet, it's worth mentioning the Texans were playing without their starting quarterback, C.J. Stroud.
Let's preview the teams and available odds for best bets football with a BetMGM sport promo code.
The Texans Are Starting A New Franchise Chapter
Rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud, drafted 2nd overall in the 2023 draft, will probably win the Rookie of the Year Award after leading Houston to a 10-7 record. Stroud is playing like a veteran, passing for 4,108 yards in the regular season with 23 touchdowns and only five interceptions after playing in 15 games.
Houston's offense averages 22.2 points per game, ranking 13th in the league in scoring, and the passing game is supported by a solid run game, with RB Devin Singletary rushing for 898 yards and 4 TDs. The defense allows 20.8 points per contest, sufficient to rank 11th in the NFL. The Texans appear healthy for the Wild Card duel and will benefit from the home crowd's support.
The Browns Overcome Adversity
Cleveland won five out of their last six games, and the only loss in the past six weeks came after head coach Kevin Stefanski decided to rest most of the starters in their last game of the regular season against the Bengals.
The Browns created a lot of buzz after Joe Flacco arrived to stabilize the carousel of quarterbacks, which got in motion following Desahun Watson's injury. Flacco played five games this season and passed for over 300 yards per game, with 1,616 yards in total. He also has 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 5 games.
Despite the media attention focused on Flacco, the veteran is not the most important piece on the team. Cleveland's success stems from its defense, ranked as the top defensive unit in the NFL this season. It allows 21.3 points per game but is also the best-ranked defense for yards allowed per game at 270.1. The pass rush is also dominant, producing 49 sacks in total, and ranks 2nd in pass rush win rate. This team can attack opposing quarterbacks from multiple sides, and that's one reason for the 11-6 record, despite quarterback issues.
Betting Prediction and Odds
The Browns receive -142 odds for a moneyline bet, while the Texans get +120 betting line for the same wager. Covering the 2.5-point spread offers -115 odds on Cleveland to cover and -105 odds on the Texans to cover as an underdog. The total is 44.5 points with -110 odds for both the Over and Under bet.
This Wild Card game has the potential to be a high-scoring showdown and is one of the hardest to predict. Flacco is a Super Bowl MVP, but was also at home on the couch before the Browns called, while C.J. Stroud was making big plays in the NFL.
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