3 Top Bets for Browns vs. Colts
Week 7 is almost here, and it’ll arrive after another week of speculation and uncertainty about whether Cleveland Browns QB Deshaun Watson will play for the first time in over three weeks.
We still don’t know if Watson will play — he was listed questionable for the game — which makes it a little harder for us to pin down favorable betting lines, but we’re giving it a shot anyway.
Last week was a great one for the Browns, but it wasn’t a good one for our betting picks. After going 1-2, we’re pulling for some better luck here.
Once again, all lines are coming from SI Sportsbook:
Under 40.5 (-110)
Watson or no-Watson, it’s probably not wise to expect the Browns offense to explode Sunday. The Colts have a stingy defense that ranks 10th in the league, and the Browns could need a game or two to regain their rhythm with Watson whenever he returns from his shoulder injury (which appears more and more likely).
We all know what the Browns defense can do, too, and we expect them to continue playing at a legendary level against Colts QB Gardner Minshew, who threw one touchdown and three interceptions last week against the Jaguars. The Colts have topped 23 points in just one of the four games Minshew has attempted 14 or more passes in this year, and we don’t expect them to top that mark against the Browns.
Oct 15, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns place kicker Dustin Hopkins (7) kicks a field goal during the second half against the San Francisco 49ers at Cleveland Browns Stadium.
Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Dustin Hopkins Kicking Points Over 6.5 (-150)
While betting on kicking points admittedly isn’t sexy, betting on Hopkins is worth it. And this is a favorable week to bet on him after he’s cleared 6.5 points in three games so far this season.
Hopkins is coming off a week where he was responsible for 13 of the Browns’ 19 total points. Yes, he missed his first field goal of the day, but he responded by drilling all four of his next attempts and converted on his lone extra-point attempt. He seemed to be an under-discussed part of the Browns’ upset victory, and it’s easy to see him getting more work Sunday and continuing a strong start to his Browns tenure.
Total Touchdowns Under 4.5 (-111)
Wait, another prop bet relating to a low-scoring game?
Yep, that’s right. Most signs are pointing toward that type of battle, so this is another favorable line. The Browns have yet to score more than two touchdowns in a game this season, while the Colts have only scored more than two touchdowns twice — and both games featured Anthony Richardson instead of Minshew at quarterback.
With two good defenses squaring off, we don’t expect those trends to change.
