Rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud will try to make history on Saturday when he leads the Houston Texans against the Cleveland Browns in an AFC battle on NFL Super Wild Card Weekend 2024. The 22-year-old will try to surpass Michael Vick as the youngest quarterback to win a playoff game. He will go head-to-head with former Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco, who has won his past four starts, including a 36-22 victory in Houston in Week 16. Stroud missed that game with a concussion. Cleveland (11-6) finished second in the AFC North and is the No, 5 seed in the NFL playoff bracket, while Houston (10-7) is seeded fourth after winning the AFC South.
Saturday's kickoff is set for 4:30 p.m. ET in Houston. The latest Texans vs. Browns odds list Cleveland as a two-point favorite, while the over/under for total points scored is 45. Before making any Browns vs. Texans picks or NFL bets, you need to see what SportsLine expert Larry Hartstein has to say, considering his mastery of picks involving Houston.
A former lead writer for Covers and The Linemakers, Hartstein combines a vast network of Vegas sources with an analytical approach he honed working for Pro Football Focus. He tied for 52nd place (out of 1,598 entries) in the 2022 Westgate Las Vegas SuperContest, going 53-34-3 ATS. Those selections form the basis of his weekly SportsLine NFL best bets, which are 69-46-2 since the start of last season, including a 14-7 record the past seven weeks.
Most importantly, Hartstein has a strong feel for the Texans, going 42-26-4 (+1344) on his last 72 NFL picks in games involving Houston. Anyone who has followed him is way up.
Now, Hartstein has set his sights on Browns vs. Texans and just locked in his picks and NFL predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see his picks. Here are several NFL odds and betting lines for Texans vs. Browns:
- Texans vs. Browns spread: Cleveland -2
- Texans vs. Browns over/under: 45 points
- Texans vs. Browns money line: Cleveland -132, Houston +112
- CLE: Browns are 10-6 against the spread as favorites over the past two seasons
- HOU: Texans are 12-5 ATS at home since the start of last season
- Texans vs. Browns picks: See picks at SportsLine
- Texans vs. Browns live stream: fubo (try for free)
Why the Browns can cover
Cleveland is 7-2 against the spread as a favorite this season, going 10-6-1 ATS overall. Defense has been the calling card, with Myles Garrett leading the way. The Defensive Player of the Year favorite has 14 sacks and four forced fumbles. The Browns have 28 takeaways, sixth-most in the league.
The Browns also have talent on offense and Flacco has taken advantage of it. Receiver Amari Cooper set a franchise record with 295 yards in the Week 16 victory against the Texans. Cooper and tight end David Njoku have combined for 153 receptions this season. Njoku led NFL tight ends with 390 receiving yards in Flacco's five starts (Weeks 13-17). Flacco, who threw for 368 yards in the Week 16 victory, is 10-5 (11-4 ATS) in 15 career playoff games. See which team to pick here.
Why the Texans can cover
Houston is 6-2 ATS in its past eight as an underdog and 7-3 ATS in its past 10 against AFC foes. Stroud has been lighting up defenses all season, as he leads the NFL in passing yards per game (273.9). The 22-year-old missed two games but threw for 4,108 yards, third all-time among rookie QBs. He has 23 TD passes and five interceptions. The Texans have turned the ball over 14 times, fewest in the NFL, while the Browns have 37 giveaways, most in the league.
The Texans have been banged up at receiver, but Nico Collins has stepped up. The third-year pro has 1,297 receiving yards after posting a career-high 195 in last week's victory against the Colts. The defense also has injury issues, but the team hopes Jonathan Greenlaw (12.5 sacks) and Will Anderson (59 pressures) will be ready. The unit ranks sixth against the run (96.7 yards per game), and Cleveland averages 3.9 per carry (26th), so the pressure will be on Flacco. See which team to pick here.
How to make Browns vs. Texans picks
Hartstein has analyzed this matchup and is leaning Over the point total, but he has discovered a critical X-factor that has him jumping all over one side of the spread. He's sharing what it is, and which side to back, only at SportsLine.
Who wins Browns vs. Texans in Saturday's AFC Wild-Card matchup, and which critical X-factor makes one side of the spread a must-back? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Browns vs. Texans spread to back, all from the expert on a 42-26 roll on picks involving Houston, and find out.
