Cleveland at Cincinnati

The Bengals had a lot of people on the bandwagon when the season began, many thinking this could be a Super Bowl team or at least a playoff team that could make a run. In a season of dissapointments, the Benglas are staking a claim to the biggest. They come into this one with a 10 game losing streak and a 2-11 mark on the season. This team was up by 17 at the half to Buffalo and were outscored 35-0 in the second half. Last week they gave Pittsburgh all they could handle in what was in reality their Super Bowl. They will have nothing left in the tank this week against lowly Cleveland and, when you have a bad team playing with a lack of purpose and motivation good things rarely happen. The Browns are simply a more effective offense behind Colt McCoy and the inspired legs of Peyton Hillis in the backfield. Cleveland should be able to get in the end zone vs. the Bengals. The Browns defense has really gotten strong, especially with the emergence of Joe Haden. They rank 21st against the pass, but since their bye week they rank #6! Carson Palmer has a dead arm and just can't get any zip anymore, so the Bengals offense should continue to struggle here. The Browns are 15-3 ATS on the road facing a home team with a winning record in their last 18. The Bengals simply should not be favored here after losing ten straight and going 5-21 ATS in their last 26 as a favorite (including 1-11 their last twelve). To add icing to the cake, the Bengals are 0-8 ATS the past two seasons vs. losing teams. Take Cleveland. I also like the UNDER here. The Bengals are playing low in December at 13-3 to the UNDER in their last 16 and four of the last five in this series at Cincinnati have fallen shy of the total. Eric Mangini's teams are 13-4 UNDER in the last four weeks of the regular season while Marvin Lewis is 37-26 UNDER in his career at home. Cleveland and UNDER get the call in this one. Important note: Remember to risk no more than 5% of your entire bankroll on any pick!