The end of the 2023 NFL preseason is upon us. With this conclusion, comes a great deal of compelling matchups. That includes the Saturday, August 26, 1 p.m. EST affair between the Kansas City Chiefs >and Cleveland Browns, which will be taking place at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri.
Though some people like to downplay the importance of the NFL preseason, we staunchly disagree. Especially now. The last week of exhibition games is a time for squads to pin down their best rotations and patterns. That’s why we typically see so much of the starters. You can even tell based on the latest odds on the NFL
that both the markets and bettors are taking this week’s competitions more seriously.
With this in mind, we’re compelled to drop our Chiefs vs. Browns picks. And before we get to them, take a look at the latest Browns vs. Chiefs betting odds below:
As always, please remember to check these NFL betting odds right up until you actually submit your wager. Our Chiefs vs. Browns betting odds are accurate as of Thursday, August 24. That gives the best online sportsbooks in the United States plenty of time to continue making adjustments prior to opening kickoff.
As you can see above, the markets have the Browns as decided favorites to beat the Chiefs. But should they really be underestimating the reigning Super Bowl champions as they prepare for the 2023 NFL regular season?
Should the Cleveland Browns Really be Favored to Beat the Kansas City Chiefs?
Predicting the outcome of final preseason games will always come down to how much the first-stringers play. In the case of the Browns, they have already said they plan to play >most of their starters. That’s why Cleveland is favored to beat Kansas City.
After all, the Chiefs are more of a wild card. Head coach Andy Reid has said he will play his starters a little bit, but he hasn’t specified how much. He also hasn’t said whether superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes and superstar tight end Travis Kelce will be part of those starters who take the field.
If we go by the final preseason game in 2021, we can expect the primary starters to play roughly two series before taking the rest of the night off. If we go by the final preseason game in 2022, we should expect Mahomes and Kelce not to play more than a down or two. We think the answer will lie somewhere closer to 2021. And if the Chiefs are going to play even one series with Mahomes and Kelce on the field, we’re inclined to go with the upset.
OSB Predictions: Kansas City Chiefs (+155)
How Close will Kansas City Keep Their Preseason Meeting Against Cleveland?
The latest NFL point spread betting lines for Chiefs vs. Browns seem to think this will be a tightly contested showdown. You can see them below:
- Cleveland Browns, -3.5 (-110)
- Kansas City Chiefs, +3.5 (-110)
Rolling with the Chiefs’ point spread against the Browns makes a lot of sense if you don’t have the stomach to predict an upset. Because despite our inklings, there is a chance Kansas City’s top guys don’t play at all.
Still, Cleveland’s offense has struggled a great deal so far even when their best players are in the game. In fact, they have yet to score more than 21 points in any of their preseason exhibitions. Even if they put their full core on the field for a quarter or two against the Chiefs’ second- or third-stringers, we think Kansas City has the tools to keep things close.
In the event you're still intrigued by the Browns, we'd recommend going with their moneyline over their spread. Their offensive vitals, at the moment, are not conducive to outscoring opponents by more than a couple points. It would take a dramatic improvement from their third-string fourth-quarter offense.
OSB Predictions: Kansas City Chiefs, +3.5 (-110)
Will Chiefs vs. Browns be Another Low-Scoring Affair?
Here are the most recent NFL over/under betting odds for Browns vs. Chiefs this Saturday:
- Over 41.5 (-110)
- Under 41.5 (-110)
At 41.5 points, this is one of the higher over/under markers we have seen this preseason. That’s likely because linemakers know Cleveland will be playing their first-stringers a fair amount. It also seems to be banking on the Chiefs’ starters logging at least a series or two.
We’re not quite sure we can make so many assumptions. Like we already said, the Browns haven’t necessarily done an exceptional job moving the ball thus far. And even if Mahomes starts the game under center for the Chiefs, he will likely be back on the sidelines by the five-minute mark of the first quarter.
Indeed, backups can always show out to run up the score. And to Kansas City’s credit, they have scored over 25 points in each of their first two preseason games. Ultimately, though, we don’t trust Cleveland’s passing or running game enough outside their starters to hold up their end of the bargain. This feels like a game that’ll have a final score of 20-17 or something similar.
OSB Prediction: Under 41.5 (-110)
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