The Cleveland Browns were 20-point underdogs for their season finale against the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday. It was the biggest spread of the season and apparently big enough to convince bettors the hapless Browns could at least get their first win against the spread since November if not their first win outright in the same span.
Those bettors were sadly mistaken. Baltimore beat Cleveland 35-10, scoring twice in the last seven minutes and getting an interception from 355-pound Michael Pierce to seal the deficit and undercut the 70% of tickets at BetMGM and 61% of money riding on a Browns cover.
Ravens (-20.5) cover the largest spread of the season
(@DKSportsbook) pic.twitter.com/gTHRNnvx6x
— br_betting (@br_betting) January 5, 2025
Updated Ravens-Browns betting at @BetMGM@Ravens open -17.5, now -20
30% of bets, 39% of money on RavensTotal open 42.5, now 41.5
59% of bets, 55% of money on Over@Browns open +900, now +1250
80% of bets, 21% of money on Browns— John Ewing (@johnewing) January 4, 2025
The game closed with the NFL’s largest spread since the Cardinals were 20.5-point favorites over the Texans in 2021, according to DraftKings Network’s Blake Krass. Favorites of at least 20 points or more are now 10-0 ATS, according to ESPN’s Jamison Hensley.
Some bettors figured the Ravens would at least cover the first-half spread if not the full-game number, and they ended up being wrong too. Cleveland couldn’t keep up over four quarters but kept the game close enough to cover -13 in the first half, which was the largest first half total since 2019.
97% of money was on Ravens -13 1st half at @BetMGM
Ravens don't kick a field goal.
Baltimore gets stopped on 4th down. pic.twitter.com/yu3mUjA0VK
— John Ewing (@johnewing) January 4, 2025
This game showed exactly why the Browns are the Browns, and why bettors are probably best off leaving Week 18 action alone.
