Bookmaker Sportsbook presents another terrific football betting match-up on Thursday night when the Denver Broncos (4-4, 1-6-1 ATS) head east to clash with the Cleveland Browns (3-5, 5-3 ATS). Both teams are slumping at the halfway point of the season, but are both still in contention for playoff spots.

This will be a rematch of their 2006 meeting at Cleveland Browns Stadium, a game which the visiting Broncos came out victorious by a 17-7 final count. Denver is 3-0 SU and 2-1 ATS in their three meetings with the Browns since 2000.

No team in the NFL has been harsher to its sports bettors than the Broncos, who continued their cover-less streak dating back to the opening weekend of the season by dropping a 26-17 decision to Miami in Week 10. The lack of a rushing game was apparent, as the Broncos only ran for 14 yards on 12 carries. Both RBs Michael Pittman and Andre Hall will miss the rest of the season with injuries. QB Jay Cutler, who got off to a tremendously hot start this season, threw three interceptions.

Denver’s rush defense had a good game, as it held the Dolphins to just 2.6 yards per carry, but still gave up a total of 341 total yards. It still ranks 29th in the NFL, allowing 389.1 yards per game, and has only held one opponent under 24 points since the first week of the season. Because the Broncos ‘totals’ have been inflated by oddsmakers, the 43 combined points marked the third out of four games that went ‘under’ the ‘total’.

Browns bettors saw their four-game cover streak get snapped on Sunday, as they dropped a 37-27 decision to Baltimore in a wild contest. QB Derek Anderson threw for 219 yards and two scores, but HC Romeo Crennel has elected to turn the ball over to former Notre Dame superstar Brady Quinn this week.

The offense can’t be much worse under Quinn, as it ranks 28th in the NFL in total yards (266.8) and 26th in passing yards (172.8). The defense had no answer for anything the Ravens’ rookies did offensively, as Delaware product Joe Flacco threw for 248 yards and two scores, while Rutgers standout Ray Rice rushed for 154 yards on 21 carries. It was a rare ‘over’ result in a Cleveland game, and ‘Under’ bettors dropped to 3-5 ATS in Browns’ games this season.

Oddsmakers installed the Browns as 3-point favorites on the opening line, but pro football bettors have pushed the line up to 3.5; the ‘total’ currently sits at 46.

The NFL Betting trends suggest that Cleveland is the team to back in this Thursday Night Football showdown. Denver is just 7-24-1 ATS in their L/32 games overall, while the Browns are 9-2 ATS in their L/11 home games. There are mixed signals on the ‘total’, as Denver’s L/10 road games have resulted in a 7-2-1 record for ‘over’ bettors, while Cleveland’s L/14 overall games have resulted in 11 ‘unders’.

The stakes couldn’t be any higher in this NFL betting match-up, so login to your Bookmaker Sportsbook account right now and place your football bets!

by Bookmaker Racebook