According to our partner Odds Shark, the Cincinnati Bengals are 7.5 to 8.5-point favorites when they host their in-state and AFC North rival Cleveland Browns at Paul Brown Stadium on Sunday. Offensively, the Bengals (23.6) and Browns (14.5) combined to average 38.1 points scored per game. Both defenses are allowing 19 points per game, which results in an over/under of between 36 and 37.5 points.
Since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970, the Bengals are 40-36 against the Browns, including a 16-9 mark since an NFL team returned to Cleveland in 1999. In the 39 season series between the two clubs, the Bengals have swept the Browns nine times, including four seasons since 1999, while the Browns have eight sweeps of the annually series.
The two teams have split against one another in 20 seasons, including 2010.
In the 2011 regular season-opener, the Bengals defeated the Browns, 27-17. No. 2 quarterback Bruce Gradkowski replaced a temporarily injured Andy Dalton to hit first-round wide receiver A.J. Green for a 41-yard touchdown to take a 20-17 lead with 4:31 to play in the fourth quarter. Running back Cedric Benson sealed the win with a 39-yard touchdown run on a 3rd-and-3 play with 1:56 remaining in regulation.
Visit Odds Shark for Week 12 NFL odds and lines. To learn more about this game, head over to Bengals blog Cincy Jungle and Browns blog Dawgs By Nature. Make sure to stop by SB Nation NFL for all your Week 12 coverage.