Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cleveland Browns Predictions, Odds, Picks

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

5 minute read

Oct. 31, 2021

Joe Williams
VI Betting Expert
VegasInsider.com

The Pittsburgh Steelers (3-3) and Cleveland Browns (4-3) renew acquaintances at FirstEnergy Field in Cleveland for a Week 8 AFC North rivalry game on the shores of Lake Erie. Kick off is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. ET and the game can be viewed on CBS.

Score Prediction

Steelers 23, Browns 20

Best Bets

Steelers +3.5

Steelers ML

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cleveland Browns Predictions

The Steelers are coming off the bye, and Pittsburgh is hopeful the two weeks off won’t knock them off the rails. Pittsburgh won a pair of games at home prior to the bye, topping the Denver Broncos, 27-19, and topping the Seattle Seahawks, 23-20 in overtime on Sunday Night Football. Pittsburgh has had two weeks to figure out how to proceed without WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, who will have season-ending shoulder surgery.

With JuJu sidelined, the Steelers still have plenty of weapons with WRs Chase Claypool and Diontae Johnson, but Claypool is nursing a hamstring injury and a little slowed.

Speaking of injuries, it’s almost easier to talk about who isn’t hurt for the Browns. QB Baker Mayfield is taking first-team reps in practice this week after missing last Thursday’s game against Denver, as he continues to deal with a torn labrum in his non-throwing shoulder. RBs Nick Chubb and Kareem Huntmissed the game, too, making a star of RB D’Ernest Johnson, who gobbled up 146 yards and a touchdown as the next man up.

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cleveland Browns Betting Odds

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Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cleveland Browns Betting Resources

• Matchup: AFC North
• Date: Sunday, October 31, 2021
• Venue: FirstEnergy Stadium
• Location: Cleveland, Ohio
• TV-Time: CBS - 1:00 p.m. ET

• Weather Report
• Injury Report
• Super Bowl 56 Betting

Pittsburgh Steelers Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

• SU: 3-3
• ATS: 2-4
• O/U: 1-4-1
• ATS - Home: 1-3
• ATS - Away: 1-1

A couple of wins have gotten the fans and talking heads off the back of QB Ben Roethlisberger, although this offense is still struggling as a whole. Pittsburgh has 323.8 total yards per game to rank 27th, but it’s the run game which has really been the problem. Rookie RB Najee Harris has been slow to make an impact, and the Steelers are just 29th in the NFL with 81.2 yards per game on the ground.

The Steelers have struggled against the number recently, going 1-4 ATS in the previous five outings, while going 1-4 ATS in the past five games inside the AFC North Division. However, Pittsburgh is 25-9-2 ATS in the past 36 games as an underdog, while going 11-4 ATS in the past 15 games on the road as a ‘dog.

The UNDER is an impressive 5-1 in the past six games for the Steelers, while going 7-2-1 in the past 10 games as a road underdog. The UNDER is also 6-1-1 in the past eight for the Steelers following a straight- up win.

Cleveland Browns Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

• SU: 4-3
• ATS: 4-3
• O/U: 4-3
• ATS - Home: 2-2
• ATS - Away: 2-1

The Browns won 17-14 on Thursday night behind backup QB Case Keenum and Johnson. Early indications are the Browns should be a little more whole this week, with Mayfield trending in the right direction, and Chubb was able to practice Wednesday on a limited basis. Hunt will be sidelined with a calf injury for a few weeks, but Odell Beckham, Jr. looks to play, barring a trade, and Donovan Peoples- Jones could be back after a surprise one-game absence, too.

The Browns are 3-1 SU/2-2 ATS in four games at home, splitting the OVER/UNDER at 2-2. It’s Week 8, and this will be the first game inside the AFC North Division for the Browns. Cleveland is just 10-25-1 ATS across the past 36 inside the division, although remember, they did win outright against Pittsburgh in an important game in Week 17 last season, and again on the road in the AFC wild-card game to oust the Steelers.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have gone UNDER the point total in five of their last six games. (AP)

Inside the Stats - Pittsburgh Steelers

• Record: 3-3
• Division Standing: 4th - AFC North
• Points Scored: 117
• Points Allowed: 132
• PS/G: 19.5 (26th)
• PA/G: 22 (12th)

Inside the Stats - Cleveland Browns

• Record: 4-3
• Division Standing: 3rd - AFC North
• Points Scored: 173
• Points Allowed: 165
• PS/G: 24.7 (12th)
• PA/G: 23.6 (18th)

Key Players to Watch

• PIT: Ben Roethlisberger - QB (153/235, 1,515 yards, 7 TD 4 INT)
• PIT: Diontae Johnson - WR (34 catches, 376 yards, 3 TD)
• CLE: Baker Mayfield - QB (116/173, 1,474 yards, 6 TD, 3 INT)
• CLE: Nick Chubb - RB (90 carries, 523 yards, 4 TD)

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cleveland Browns Betting Conclusion

The Steelers are a little more healthy, and they have Week 17 and last season’s playoff loss to the Browns to look to for inspiration. And they’re well-rested after a bye week, although the Browns have had a couple of extra days to rest their bumps and bruises following a Thursday game in Week 7.

This is back to being a rivalry again after years of 'onesided-ness' rubbing off the luster of a once brutal battle between Rust Belt teams. The home side is 5-2 ATS in the past seven meetings in this series, so Cleveland has that going.

The UNDER is also 6-2 in the previous eight battles at First Energy Stadium. I still like the fact Pittsburgh is well-rested. This game is going to be a one-score game, perhaps coming down to a late field goal to make the difference. I love Pittsburgh with three and a hook as a result.

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cleveland Browns Betting Trends

• Pittsburgh has won seven of its last eight games when playing in October.
• Cleveland has failed to cover the spread in eight of its last nine divisional games.
• Pittsburgh has gone UNDER the point total in five of its last six games.
• Pittsburgh has covered the spread in three of its last four games when facing Cleveland.
• The home team has won four of the last five meetings.

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