Cleveland at Baltimore Lines, Betting Pick & TV Info

Posted by Michael Hunt on Tuesday,November 8, 2016 8:29, EDT in

The Baltimore Ravens can temporarily take sole possession of first place in the AFC North in the Thursday night matchup this week and all they have to do is beat the worst team in the NFL, the winless and visiting Cleveland Browns. Seems simple enough. Baltimore is the biggest NFL betting favorite of Week 10.

Cleveland at Baltimore Lines, Betting Pick & TV Info


When: Thursday, Nov. 10, 8:30 PM ET
Where: M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore
TV: NFL Network
Radio: Cleveland /  Baltimore
Stream Option: NFL Live
Opening NFL Lines: Ravens -10 (45)

Why Bet on Cleveland?

The Browns (0-9) were no match for red-hot Dallas on Sunday, losing 35-10 at home. The Browns gained just 28 total yards in the second half when they were overmatched on both sides of the ball by the Cowboys. Browns rookie quarterback Cody Kessler returned after missing one game with a concussion and passed for 203 yards. Kessler threw a 12-year- old TD pass to Terrelle Pryor.

Cleveland has lost a franchise-record 12 straight going back to last season and lost 19 of 20 — also a team record. Cleveland, which also started 0-9 in 1975, is 3-27 in its past 30 and the Browns are the first team since the 1964 Denver Broncos to allow at least 25 points in their first nine games.

Kessler will remain the Browns’ quarterback for Thursday’s game against the Ravens. Kessler struggled in Sunday’s loss to the Cowboys, but coach Hue Jackson doesn’t want to play “musical chairs” at quarterback. Jackson also stated flat out that Kessler wasn’t good enough against Dallas. In his six starts, Kessler has thrown only five TD passes and struggles with the deep ball. Against the Cowboys, he was 1-for-9 on third down. More importantly, he hasn’t been able to pull out a victory. Jackson acknowledged that Kessler is auditioning the second half of the season to be the Browns quarterback of the future.

Fellow rookie WR Corey Coleman returned from a broken hand that cost him six games and caught 3-of- 7 targets for 41 yards vs. Dallas. Coleman did all of his damage before halftime. He was overthrown twice on deep balls in the second half by Kessler.

Why Bet on Baltimore?

The Ravens (4-4) surprisingly dominated Pittsburgh 21-14 on Sunday with both teams coming out of the bye week and the Steelers welcoming back star QB Ben Roethlisberger from injury. The Ravens won for the first time in 42 days and suddenly find themselves in control of the AFC North.

Baltimore wide receiver Mike Wallace had four catches for 124 yards, including a 95-yard touchdown reception. Baltimore’s only touchdown offensively came on Joe Flacco’s pass to Wallace, who was making his first appearance with the Ravens in this bitter rivalry after playing for Pittsburgh from 2009-12.

Wallace broke free on the left sideline, caught the pass in stride and outran safety Mike Mitchell to the end zone. It was the longest play from scrimmage in Ravens history during the regular season and second-longest in the NFL this year. Wallace, who had a 95-yard touchdown catch for Pittsburgh in 2011 (October 23, 2011 at Arizona), is the third player in NFL history (John Taylor & Gus Tinsley) to have two career 95+ yard touchdown receptions. Wallace is the only player in league annals to have a 95+ yard touchdown catch with two different teams. Fellow WR Steve Smith was listed as questionable heading into Sunday’s game with the Steelers but had four catches for 47 yards.

The Ravens have won four of the past five meetings with Cleveland and John Harbaugh is 15-2 vs. the Browns. On Sept. 18, Baltimore won 25-20 in Cleveland. Flacco threw two touchdown passes to Wallace and Baltimore, sparked by returning a blocked extra point, rallied from 20 down. Justin Tucker kicked three field goals — the last with 2:56 left. The Ravens scored 25 unanswered points and hung on when linebacker C.J. Mosley intercepted Browns quarterback Josh McCown at the goal line with 13 seconds left.

Cleveland at Baltimore Betting Pick: Baltimore

Take the Ravens on the NFL odds and the under.