One of the NFL’s longest and fiercest rivalries returns in Week 18 as the Cleveland Browns visit the Cincinnati Bengals for the Battle of Ohio.
This rivalry rarely produces offensive fireworks, and my Browns vs. Bengals predictions and NFL picks anticipate a low-scoring affair at Paycor Stadium.
Browns vs Bengals prediction
Browns vs Bengals Best bet: Under 44.5 (-112)
The Battle of Ohio between the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals has long been a low-scoring grind, and nothing about this matchup suggests a change.
Their Week 1 meeting followed the script, ending 17-16 as Cleveland’s defense smothered Joe Burrow, holding him to a career-low 113 passing yards.
Cleveland’s offense remains one of the league’s worst, ranking 31st in scoring at just 16.2 points per game.
Rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders is still adjusting to NFL speed and is without his top target, tight end Harold Fannin Jr.
Cincinnati’s offense has shown flashes, but this is still an elite Browns defense playing with extra motivation: putting Myles Garrett in position to chase the NFL sack record.
With cold temperatures around 39°F and four of the last five Battle of Ohio matchups staying under the total, this sets up as another defensive slugfest, making the Under the clear way to play it.
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Browns vs Bengals same-game parlay
Tee Higgins quietly gets the job done. Higgins has five or more targets in five of his previous six games and has recorded 56 or more receiving yards in four of his last six games.
Sanders has been better than some expected. The Bengals' passing defense is in the bottom five in the League.
The rookie quarterback has thrown a touchdown pass in five of his previous six games and should sling at least one TD pass on Sunday.
Browns vs Bengals SGP
- Under 44.5
- Tee Higgins Over 55.5 receiving yards
- Shedeur Sanders Over 0.5 passing touchdowns
Our big-ticket SGP: Go the extra Myle
Myles Garrett is one sack from breaking the All-Time Sack record set by Michael Strahan and T.J. Watt.
Garrett has 22 sacks and has recorded at least one sack in eight of his last 10 games, and has sacked Burrow 11 times in their career.
He’ll likely get his sack, and I’ll also add Higgins to score a touchdown. He's found the paint in six of his previous eight games and is my best Bengals choice to hit paydirt.
Browns vs Bengals SGP
- Under 44.5
- Tee Higgins Over 55.5 receiving yards
- Tee Higgins anytime touchdown
- Shedeur Sanders Over 0.5 passing touchdowns
- Myles Garrett Over 0.25 sacks
Browns vs Bengals game predictions
Browns vs Bengals moneyline prediction
I’ll back the Bengals. They have won five of their previous six meetings. Burrow means the Bengals always have a chance, and they score just enough points to win this game.
Browns vs Bengals spread prediction
I’ll lean towards Cincy. This 7.5-point spread is a bad number, but Sanders is turnover-prone and doesn’t have the offensive weapons that Burrow and the Bengals possess.
Browns vs Bengals Over/Under prediction
The Under is my best bet. The Under is 4-1 in the previous five Battle of Ohio meetings, and Sunday’s installment should end Under the game total.
Browns vs Bengals odds
- Spread: Browns +7.5 | Bengals -7.5
- Moneyline: Browns +310 | Bengals -400
- Over/Under: Over 44.5 | Under 44.5
More NFL picks and odds from Covers
Browns vs Bengals trend to know
The Bengals have covered the first-quarter spread in their last five home games. Find more NFL betting trends for Browns vs. Bengals.
How to watch Browns vs Bengals
| Location | Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati, OH |
| Date | Sunday, January 4, 2026 |
| Kickoff | 1:00 p.m. ET |
| TV | CBS |
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