AFC North rivals with something to prove meet in their regular-season curtain raisers Sunday afternoon as the Cleveland Browns visit the Baltimore Ravens. For Baltimore, the 2020 season represents a chance to take another step forward in their quest to return to the Super Bowl. For Cleveland, it’s an opportunity to turn things around after yet another dismal season.
- Date/Time: September 13, 1 p.m. ET
- Stadium: M&T Bank Stadium
- TV Coverage: CBS
- Sportsbook Odds: Ravens -10 | O/U 49 (Line History)
- Browns vs Ravens Matchup Report
Sportsbook Odds Analysis
The Ravens opened as massive double-digit favorites – that’s high for a season opener – but have settled into the -8.5 range at the majority of sportsbooks. The total started at 49 but is being offered at 48.5 at most places.
Cleveland News & Notes
The Browns and their fans had high hopes in 2019 but got off to a 2-6 start and couldn’t recover en route to a 6-10 SU mark and a 5-10-1 ATS record. The arrival of wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. from the New York Giants did little to bolster a Cleveland offense that produced just 20.9 points per game, ranking 22nd in the NFL; the Browns were also 22nd in passing yardage.
So what’s different on the offensive end in 2020? Another year of chemistry between Beckham and Baker Mayfield will help, as will the arrival of pass-catching tight end Austin Hooper from Atlanta. Mayfield threw for 285 or more yards in three of his first four games in 2019 – look for the QB and his teammates to try to get off to a hot start (and consider the OVER on Mayfield’s passing yards).
Baltimore News & Notes
It’s nice to have the defending NFL MVP on your side – and Lamar Jackson is ready to show the world that 2019 was no fluke. After an extraordinary season in which he posted a 36:6 touchdown-to-interception ratio while adding 1,206 rushing yards and seven scores, Jackson has reportedly been working on his passing game in the offseason and could be even more of a threat through the air.
The biggest beneficiary of such a development? Likely wide receiver Marquise Brown, who flashed elite upside as a rookie while finishing with 46 catches for 584 yards and seven touchdowns. He and tight end Mark Andrews are easily Baltimore’s top two receiving threats, and the OVER on Brown’s yard total Sunday is an appealing player prop option.
Betting Pick: Browns +8.5 (-110)
We don’t know anything about anything at this point in the NFL season – so getting 8.5 points, even with Cleveland, is too good to resist here. The Browns have a new head coach, a stronger defense and a more well-rounded offense.
- The Ravens are 6-3 ATS in the last 9 head-to-head meetings.
- Baltimore is 9-2 ATS in its past 11 games.
- Marquise Brown had just 5 catches for 28 yards vs the Browns last season.
