Browns vs. Texans Prediction: The Deshaun Watson Return
By Josh Yourish
We’ve gotten here, I feel like collectively we all tried to ignore that this day would come, but it’s here and he’s back.
Deshaun Watson will make his regular season debut for the 4-7 Cleveland Browns on the road this week against his former team, the Houston Texans. Hopefully Texans fans haven’t used up all of their disdain for their own 1-9-1 team, because they need to be ready to boo Watson for four quarters.
It feels like a revenge game for the entire city of Houston against their reprehensible former quarterback, so let’s get to the odds and see if there’s a chance for an upset.
Browns vs. Texans Odds, Spread and Total
Browns vs. Texans Odds, Spread and Total Movement in NFL Week 13
Cleveland opened as 5.5 point favorites and even as the road team at 4-7, they have jumped to a touchdown favorites in Houston. The total has also gone up.
Browns vs. Texans Prediction and Best Bet
Earlier in the week I already took the Texans on the moneyline.
They are going to play inspired in this game because they’re facing Watson and that matters in football. In other sports I don’t think that should really be part of the handicapping process, but in football it is absolutely a factor. It doesn’t matter how bad of a roster Houston has, if they play harder they can win. Especially if they feed their best player, Dameon Pierce the ball all game. Cleveland has a terrible run defense and Pierce should gash them.
However, if you want another play, I’m liking the under much more as it continues to climb. I believe that Watson is going to have a lot of rust. He hasn’t played competitive football in a really long time, it’s been since January 3rd 2021 and we are nearing 2023. He will be rusty and the Browns are going to want to see what he can do as a passer. Let it rise until game day and then I think the under is a good play, but I’m on the Texans moneyline.
Lean: Under 47.5 (-110)
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Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change