Two teams once thought to be contenders in the NFL playoff picture will look to shake losing streaks on Thursday Night Football when the Cleveland Browns host the Denver Broncos. The Broncos (3-3), who have dropped three in a row, are looking to win for the first time since beating the New York Jets on September 26. The Browns (3-3), who have lost two consecutive games, last won on October 3, when they posted a 14-7 victory at Minnesota. Cleveland is averaging 26 points per game, while Denver is averaging 21. The Browns will be without quarterback Baker Mayfield (shoulder) and star running backs Nick Chubb (calf) and Kareem Hunt (calf).

Kickoff from FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland is set for 8:20 p.m. ET. Cleveland is a 1.5-point favorite in the latest Broncos vs. Browns odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over-under for total points scored is 40.5. Before making any Browns vs. Broncos picks, be sure to see the NFL predictions from SportsLine's Emory Hunt.  

Hunt is the founder and CEO of Football Gameplan, which has been supplying analysis of all levels of football since 2007, and a former running back at Louisiana-Lafayette. He knows the game from a player's perspective.

Hunt has had a lot of success in games involving the Cleveland Browns. He went 10-2 in his last 12 against-the-spread NFL picks in Cleveland games, returning $780 to $100 players. Anyone who has followed him is way up.

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Now, Hunt has broken down Browns vs. Broncos from every angle and just locked in his NFL expert picks. You can head to SportsLine to see Hunt's picks. Here are the NFL odds and betting lines for Broncos vs. Browns:  

  • Broncos vs. Browns spread: Cleveland -1
  • Broncos vs. Browns over-under: 40.5 points
  • Broncos vs. Browns money line: Denver +100, Cleveland -120
  • DEN: Broncos are 11-3 against the spread in their last 14 Thursday games
  • CLE: Browns are 5-2 ATS in their last seven games following an ATS loss

Why the Browns can cover

Cleveland will be without the services of quarterback Baker Mayfield (shoulder) and running backs Kareem Hunt (calf) and Nick Chubb (calf). The Browns will turn to veteran Case Keenum at quarterback and the duo of D'Ernest Johnson and Demetric Felton at running back. Keenum has proven multiple times during his career that he can be a starting-caliber quarterback in the NFL.

The Browns have one of the premier defenses in the league. They will rely on the duo of Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney to wreck havoc on a struggling Denver offensive line. If the Cleveland pass rush can create early pressure on quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, the Broncos could be in for a long night.

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Why the Broncos can cover

Denver has played well against Cleveland through the years and won 12 of the past 13 meetings. Defensively, safety Justin Simmons is off to another strong start to his season. He is third on the team with 28 tackles, including 19 solo, with three pass breakups and one interception he returned 35 yards.

In the last meeting against Cleveland, Simmons was all over the field, making eight tackles with two tackles for loss. He will be looking for his fourth Thursday Night Football game in a row with five or more tackles.

How to make Broncos vs. Browns picks

For Thursday Night Football, Hunt is leaning over the point total, but he also has identified a critical X-factor that makes one side of the spread a must-back. He's sharing what it is, and which side to back, only at SportsLine.

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So who wins Browns vs. Broncos on Thursday Night Football? And what critical X-factor makes one side a must-back? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread you should be all over, all from the expert who is 10-2 on NFL picks involving Cleveland, and find out.