The Cleveland Browns look to clinch a playoff berth on Thursday Night Football. Cleveland can earn a trip to the postseason with a win over the New York Jets at home in an AFC matchup. Cleveland is 10-5 overall after a 36-22 win over Houston last week, and the Browns have won three straight games. New York is eliminated from playoff contention at 6-9 overall, though the Jets have won two of the last three contests.
Kickoff is at 8:15 p.m. ET in Cleveland. For this game, SportsLine consensus lists Cleveland as a 7.5-point favorite, while the over/under, or total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, is 34 in the latest Browns vs. Jets odds. Before you make any Jets vs. Browns picks or NFL bets, you need to see what SportsLine expert R.J. White has to say, considering his mastery of picks involving Cleveland.
White, a Fantasy and gambling editor for CBS Sports, consistently crushes against-the-spread picks and went 535-450-30 on his ATS picks from 2017-22, returning more than $3,500 to $100 players. He also closed the 2022 NFL season on an incredible 107-80-6 run on his last 193 against-the-spread and total NFL picks, returning more than $1,800 for $100 bettors.
Most importantly, White has a read on the pulse of the Browns. In fact, he is a blistering 47-31-5 (+1562) on his last 83 against-the-spread picks involving Cleveland. Anyone who has followed him is way up.
Now, White has set his sights on Browns vs. Jets 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 Jets vs. Browns:
- Browns vs. Jets spread: Browns -7.5
- Browns vs. Jets over/under: 34 points
- Browns vs. Jets money line: Browns -359, Jets +284
- NYJ: Jets are 5-9-1 against the spread this season
- CLE: Browns are 9-5-1 against the spread this season
- Browns vs. Jets picks: See picks at SportsLine
- Browns vs. Jets live stream: Stream on Amazon
Why the Jets can cover
New York's defense is opportunistic this season. The Jets have created 22 turnovers, including 14 interceptions, and New York should have chances to add to that total in Week 17. The Browns are dead-last in the NFL in ball security, throwing 20 interceptions and committing a league-high 32 turnovers. Cleveland has more interceptions (20) than passing touchdowns (19) this season, and the Browns are also completing only 56.8% of passes, ranking last in the league.
New York's defense is potent across the board, headlined by a top-five mark in total yards allowed (294.8 per game) and yards allowed per possession (23.8). The Jets are yielding only 1.62 points per defensive drive, a top-five mark in the NFL, and New York's passing defense is elite. That includes top-three marks in passing yards allowed (168.6 per game), passing touchdowns allowed (16), and yards allowed per pass attempt (6.0). See which team to pick here.
Why the Browns can cover
Cleveland's defense leads the way, but the Browns are also excelling on offense in recent weeks. The Browns are averaging 29 points and 394.7 total yards per game over their last three contests, and quarterback Joe Flacco is red-hot. The veteran is playing against his former team in this matchup, and Flacco has thrown for at least 311 yards in three consecutive contests. He became only the second quarterback in Browns history to exceed 300 yards in three straight games, and Flacco leads the NFL in passing yards (1,307) during the month of December.
He is also in the top three of the league with 10 passing touchdowns this month, and the Browns are above-average in scoring (23.0 points per game) and rushing (119.1 yards per game) this season. From there, Cleveland leads the NFL in total defense, giving up only 260.3 yards per game. That is the league's best mark since 2009, and the Browns are also No. 1 in pass completion rate allowed (55.2%), passing yards allowed (160.1 per game), third down efficiency allowed (28.7%), and fourth down efficiency (38.5%) allowed in 2023. See which team to pick here.
How to make Browns vs. Jets picks
White has analyzed this matchup and while we can tell you he's leaning Under the point total, 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 Jets vs. Browns on Thursday Night Football, and which critical X-factor makes one side of the spread a must-back? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Jets vs. Browns spread to back, all from the expert on a 47-31 roll on picks involving Cleveland, and find out.
