Ricky Dimon
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What will the Cleveland Browns (9-4) do for an encore following their loss in a Monday Night Football thriller against the Baltimore Ravens? Well, for one thing they just need to get back on the winning track. Although the Browns’ recent setback all but ended their AFC North title hopes, they are still in prime position for wild-card spot heading in Sunday Night Football against the New York Giants (5-8). As for the Giants, even though their record is much different than Cleveland’s they are also in the thick of a playoff race. They are trying to stay within striking distance of the Washington Football Team in the moribund NFC East.
In other words, this is a big one. And to spice it up to an even greater extent, a same game parlay may be right up your alley. It always has the potential to be a profitable venture, as well. Let’s take a look at the best such option for Browns vs. Giants, and be sure to check out our full preview of the game for picks on the side and total.
Browns -6.5 point spread (-114)
Kareem Hunt Under 41.5 rushing yards (-112)
Wayne Gallman Over 56.5 rushing yards (-112)
Rashard Higgins anytime touchdown scorer (+250)
Parlay odds: +3349
Part of the value in same-game parlays is that all of its components can be correlated if you so choose. That is only some of the plan here. If Rashard Higgins finds the endzone, obviously that would help Cleveland’s overall effort—and we think the visitors have a good chance to both win and cover this weekend. However, we think they can do it even if Kareem Hunt gets held in check on the ground at the same time that New York RB Wayne Gallman racks up a decent chunk of yards. After all, the Browns use Nick Chubb as their primary back so they can get by even if Hunt doesn’t do much. And the key thing to note is that when some legs of the parlay aren’t correlated the payout is driven up tenfold. That’s why the value of this particular quartet is extremely intriguing.
Browns -6.5 point spread (-114)
Unfortunately for the Giants, they are crumbling at the worst possible time. Daniel Jones is dealing with hamstring and ankle injuries and won’t be able to go on Sunday. Colt McCoy will get the start and can expect to be hounded by Myles Garrett and this intimidating Cleveland defensive line. The Browns welcome back top CB Denzel Ward, so their secondary could also give McCoy plenty of problems. On the other side of the ball, New York shutdown cornerback James Bradberry is also going to miss this one. That’s a huge loss for a defense that had been improving prior to last week’s lackluster loss to Arizona (the offense was even more at fault, producing a mere seven points). You have to like Cleveland here.
Kareem Hunt Under 41.5 rushing yards (-112)
Chubb is the undisputed RB1 in Cleveland. That’s not to say that Hunt isn’t a big part of the offense, but he doesn’t get as many carries. Against Baltimore in Week 14, Hunt ran it a season-low six times compared to 17 attempts for Chubb. The former Georgia standout has carried it between 17 and 20 times in each of his five games since returning from a knee injury. Given how effective he has been, that will likely continue. Hunt’s value may come more in the pass-catching department (he had six receptions for 77 yards at the Ravens’ expense).
Wayne Gallman Over 56.5 rushing yards (-112)
We have been on the Gallman bandwagon ever since he showed signs of becoming RB1 in New York. Now he is the obvious leader in the Giants’ backfield on the heels of injuries to Saquon Barkley and Devonta Freeman. Gallman has rushed for at least 53 yards in five consecutive contests, including more than this 56.5 quota in four of those five. The former Clemson Tiger went for 135 yards in Week 13 against Seattle. The Giants probably understand that their best defense for this in-form Cleveland offense is keeping it off the field. They can do that by giving Gallman a ton of carries.
Rashard Higgins anytime touchdown scorer (+250)
Although the Browns boast one of the most prolific rushing attacks in football, don’t sleep on the passing game. Baker Mayfield has been stellar of late and Higgins has emerged as one of his favorite targets. The fifth-year receiver out of Colorado State has 12 receptions on 19 targets for 163 yards and two touchdowns in the past two games. As mentioned above, the Giants’ secondary is banged up and Higgins is more than capable of taking advantage to continue his hot streak.
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