Browns vs. Ravens: Spread Info, Line and Predictions

There's always an extra buzz in the air when the new Cleveland Browns take on the old Cleveland Browns—er, the Baltimore Ravens—and that will certainly be the case when the two teams meet on Thursday night.

The Ravens are looking to open the season 3-1 and maintain the early lead they hold in the AFC North. The Browns are hoping to avoid an 0-4 start and another miserable season. 

It's one of the classic AFC North rivalries, and I think it will be a better game than you might expect. Let's break down some Browns versus Ravens action.

Where: M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland

When: Thursday, September 27 at 8:20 p.m. ET

Watch: NFL Network

Stream: NFL Audio Pass

Spread: Ravens (-12.5), according to Bovada.

I really like taking the points with the Browns here. The Ravens are tough at home, yes, but they're coming off an emotional win against the New England Patriots and could be in line for a bit of a letdown this week. 

Plus, divisional games are generally tight affairs. And the Browns may be 0-3, but they haven't lost by more than 10 points this season. 

The Ravens are going to win this game. Just don't expect them to do it with ease or by a huge margin.

Over/Under: 43.5, according to Bovada.

Take the under, if for no other reason than the Browns offense simply isn't good. If the Browns stay tight in this game, it will be due to the defense stepping up, not because the offense suddenly starts scoring points in droves.

Browns Injuries (via ESPN)

LB James-Michael Johnson, Ribs, Questionable 

WR Josh Cribbs, Knee, Questionable 

CB Sheldon Brown, Chest, Questionable 

DT Phillip Taylor, Pectoral, Out

RB Trent Richardson, Knee, Probable 

TE Alex Smith, Concussion, Questionable 

WR Mohamed Massaquoi, Hamstring Questionable

Ravens Injuries (via ESPN)

CB Lardarius Webb, Knee, Probable

LB Brendon Ayanbadejo, Knee, Questionable 

Fantasy Options

You should start Ray Rice in this game; no questions asked. Joe Flacco and Dennis Pitta aren't bad options, and you could do worse at your flex than Anquan Boldin and Torrey Smith (especially with Joe Haden still suspended). You should definitely start the Ravens defense.

Oh, and if you start anyone on the Browns other than Trent Richardson (who definitely should be started), your fantasy football ownership should officially be revoked.

Keys to Browns Win

It's all about the trenches for the Browns. Defensively, they need to slow down the running game early and force the Ravens to become pass-happy, which they often and inexplicably do. The Browns are tied for fifth in the NFL with nine sacks this season, so they'll get after Flacco.

If they can make the Ravens one-dimensional and take Ray Rice out of the game (a tall task for sure), they can pull of the upset.

Offensively, if they can't run the ball with success, they're toast, plain and simple. If the Browns have to play catch-up and turn to Brandon Weeden to lead them down the field in the passing game, they won't win this game.

Keys to Ravens Win

RAY RICE, RAY RICE, RAY RICE!

Too often, the Ravens get cute and start slinging the ball around with Flacco rather than letting Rice carry the load. Not surprisingly, they don't play nearly as well when they do. And if they get away from Rice and become predictable in the passing game, the Browns will pressure Flacco and make life difficult for him.

If Rice has less than 25 touches in this game, I'll be exasperated.

Defensively, the Ravens need to stop the run, plain and simple. I'm pretty sure Weeden will have at least one touchdown pass in this one, though it will be to Ed Reed on a pick-six.

Prediction

This isn't going to be an easy game for the Ravens, and this one has "really dull first half" written all over it in my opinion. But the Ravens will remember they should be relying on Rice to carry the load, the Browns will remember they are the Browns and Baltimore will escape with a 24-16 win.

Hit me up on Twitter—my tweets wouldn't allow fake Golden Tate touchdowns to stand.