New York Giants vs. Cleveland Browns Betting Odds, Analysis, NFL Pick

Yes, the Cleveland Browns are terrible, but you'd think they could at least hold their own at home. Instead, the Browns are 0-6 both straight up and against the spread their last six times out playing in front of their home crowd. Cleveland continues its search for its first victory of this season when it hosts the New York Giants on Sunday afternoon.

Point spread: The Giants opened as 6.5-point favorites; the total was 45 early in the week, according to sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark (line updates and matchup report).

NFL pick, via Odds Shark computer: 29.2-14.3 Giants (NFL picks on every game).

Why the Giants can cover the spread

A season after going 6-10, the Giants are 7-3, owners of a five-game winning streak and on pace to quench a four-season playoff drought. New York extended its run last week with a 22-16 victory over the Chicago Bears.

The Giants trailed the Bears 16-6 late into the second quarter and then scored the final 16 points of the game. On the day, New York outgained Chicago 329-315. Quarterback Eli Manning threw for 227 yards and two touchdowns without an interception, and running back Rashad Jennings ran 21 times for 85 yards and one touchdown. Meanwhile, the Giants defense pitched a shutout over the last 38 minutes of the game.

If new Giants kicker Robbie Gould hadn't missed a pair of extra-point attempts on a blustery day in New Jersey, the Giants might have covered the spread as seven-point favorites.

Why the Browns can cover the spread

At 0-11 on the season and just 2-9 ATS, Cleveland's case is tough to make, and it now has a 23.4 percent chance of going winless on the year, according to PredictionMachine.com.

Last week, the Browns lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers 24-9, coming up a score short of the spread as eight-point home underdogs. Cleveland trailed the Steelers 14-0 at the half and 17-3 through three quarters and pulled to within a push at 17-9 with 10 minutes to go but could get no closer.

The Browns then gave up that push on a Josh McCown fumble recovered for a Pittsburgh touchdown with just over three minutes to go. Along the way, Cleveland lost quarterback Cody Kessler to a concussion, but McCown led the team to its only touchdown and nearly drove them to another in the final minutes.

It didn't happen last week, but the Browns have lost five games this season in which they've led in the second half.

Smart pick

Cleveland is quite a mess at the moment and once again starting 37-year-old McCown at quarterback. On the other side of this matchup, the Giants are finding ways to win games, thanks in part to an improved defense. The smart play here gives the points with New York.

Betting trends

The Giants are 3-1 SU and ATS in their last four games against the Browns.

The Browns are 0-6 SU and ATS in their last six games at home.

The total has gone under in seven of the Giants' last 10 games as road favorites.

All NFL betting lines and point spreads data courtesy of Bleacher Report’s official odds partner, Odds Shark. All quotes gathered firsthand unless otherwise noted. Check out Twitter for injury and line movement updates and Odds Shark YouTube for picks and analysis, or download the free odds tracker app.