The 2024 Super Wild Card Weekend NFL schedule begins on Saturday when the Houston Texans (10-7) host the Cleveland Browns (11-6) in an AFC matchup. Houston closed the season with a two-game winning streak to take the AFC South title. Cleveland finished second in the AFC North behind Baltimore, winning four straight games before losing a meaningless game at Cincinnati last week. The Texans are returning to the NFL playoffs for the first time since 2019, while the Browns are in the postseason for just the third time since 1999.
Kickoff is set for 4:30 p.m. ET from U.S. NRG Stadium in Houston. Cleveland is favored by two points in the latest Browns vs. Texans odds via the SportsLine consensus, while the over/under is 45. Before locking in any Texans vs. Browns picks, you'll want to see the NFL playoff predictions from the model at SportsLine.
The model, which simulates every NFL game 10,000 times, is up well over $7,000 for $100 players on top-rated NFL picks since its inception. The model enters the 2024 NFL playoffs on an incredible 183-129 run on top-rated NFL picks that dates back to the 2017 season. It is also on a 37-21 roll on top-rated picks since Week 7 of last season and has nailed seven straight top-rated picks entering the 2024 NFL playoffs.
The model also ranked in the top 10 on NFLPickWatch four of the past six years on straight-up NFL picks and beat more than 94% of CBS Sports Football Pick'em players four times during that span. Anyone who has followed it is way up.
Now, the model has set its sights on Browns vs. Texans. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Here are several NFL betting lines for Texans vs. Browns:
- Browns vs. Texans spread: Browns -2
- Browns vs. Texans over/under: 45 points
- Browns vs. Texans money line: Browns -132, Texans +112
- CLE: Browns are 10-6 against the spread this season
- HOU: Texans are 9-7 against the spread this season
- Browns vs. Texans picks: See picks here
- Browns vs. Texans live stream: fubo (try for free)
Why the Browns can cover
The Browns had their four-game winning streak snapped in a 31-14 loss to Cincinnati last week, but they rested starters and had nothing to gain from a win. Veteran quarterback Joe Flacco has turned the season around for Cleveland's offense, throwing for more than 300 yards in four straight games. He lit up Houston's defense in Week 16, throwing for 368 yards and three touchdowns.
Wide receiver Amari Cooper had 11 receptions for a franchise-record 265 yards and two touchdowns in that double-digit win for Cleveland. Flacco has played in 16 playoff games during his career and can break a tie with Tom Brady for the most road playoff wins in league history with an eighth win on Saturday. Houston is relying on a rookie quarterback and has just three players remaining on its roster from the last Texans team to make the playoffs (2019). See which team to pick here.
Why the Texans can cover
Cleveland picked up a 36-22 victory when these teams met three weeks ago, but Houston was playing without star rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud in that game. The likely NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year was recovering from a concussion that forced him to miss two games, but he led the Texans to a 23-19 win over the Colts in Week 18. Stroud racked up 4,108 yards, 23 touchdowns and just five interceptions during the regular season.
Browns quarterback Joe Flacco has been an impressive replacement for the injured Deshaun Watson down the stretch, but he has also thrown at least one interception in all five of his outings. In fact, he has thrown more interceptions (eight) in those five games than Stroud has in 15 games. Mistakes can play a pivotal role in the outcome of a playoff game, and the Texans have covered the spread in seven of the last nine meetings between these teams. See which team to pick here.
How to make Browns vs. Texans picks
The model has simulated Texans vs. Browns 10,000 times and the results are in. The model is leaning Under the point total and it also says one side of the spread hits over 50% of the time. You can only see the pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Texans vs. Browns in the NFL playoffs 2024, and which side of the spread hits over 50% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to find out which side of the Texans vs. Browns spread you need to jump on Saturday, all from the model on a 183-129 roll on NFL picks, and find out.