Teams that went in opposite directions in 2019 meet up in Week 1 of the 2020 NFL season on Sunday when the Baltimore Ravens host the Cleveland Browns at 1 p.m. ET. With Lamar Jackson in his first season as the full-time starter, the Ravens vaulted to the top of the AFC in the regular season with a 14-2 record. A trendy playoff pick in the preseason, the Browns instead fell flat last year, going just 6-10.
This matchup will be played with no fans in the stands at M&T Bank Stadium. The latest Ravens vs. Browns odds from William Hill list Baltimore as the 7.5-point favorite. The over-under for total points expected is 47.5. Before entering any Browns vs. Ravens picks, you'll want to see the NFL predictions from the model at SportsLine.
The model, which simulates every NFL game 10,000 times, is up over $7,000 for $100 players on its top-rated NFL picks since its inception five years ago. It also enters the 2020 NFL season on an incredible 96-65 roll on top-rated NFL picks that dates back to the 2017 season. The model ranked in the Top 10 on NFLPickWatch in three of the past four years on straight-up NFL picks and beat more than 95 percent of CBS Sports office pool players three times during that span. Anyone who has followed it is way up.
Now, the model has set its sights on Ravens vs. Browns. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Here are several NFL betting lines for Ravens vs. Browns:
- Ravens vs. Browns spread: Ravens -7.5
- Ravens vs. Browns over-under: 47.5 points
- Ravens vs. Browns money line: Baltimore -340, Cleveland +280
Why the Browns can cover
While Jackson looked unstoppable at times in 2019, opposing defensive coordinators have now had a full offseason to adjust game plans. Cleveland beat him once in 2019 as well, taking their first matchup 40-25. The Browns were also one of only two teams to force Jackson into multiple interceptions in a game as they picked him off twice in that matchup.
Offensively, Cleveland focused on getting Baker Mayfield better protection this offseason. The Browns signed top-tier right tackle Jack Conklin in free agency and picked left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. in the first round of the draft. If those additions can give Mayfield more time to find talented targets like Odell Beckham Jr. and Austin Hooper, they'll have a great chance to stay within this spread that is tied for the largest on the NFL odds board at William Hill for Sunday.
Why the Ravens can cover
Jackson had 16 TD passes and 2 INTs with an 111.6 rating in seven home games last season. He had three TD passes in each of his matchups vs. Cleveland last year. Mark Ingram has scored a TD in four consecutive divisional games. Marquise Brown had seven receptions for 126 yards in Baltimore's playoff loss.
Mark Andrews had three TD catches in two games vs. the Browns last year. Matthew Judon had a career-high 9.5 sacks in 2019. The Ravens have won two of the past three vs. Cleveland. John Harbaugh is 20-4 against the Browns.
How to make Ravens vs. Browns picks
The model has simulated Ravens vs. Browns 10,000 times and the results are in. The model is leaning over on the total, and it's also generated a point-spread pick that is hitting in well over 50 percent of simulations. You can only see the pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Browns vs. Ravens? And which side of the spread hits in well over 50 percent of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Ravens vs. Browns spread to jump on Sunday, all from the model that enters the 2020 NFL season on an incredible 96-65 roll.
