AFC wild card Browns vs. Texans odds, game and player props, top sports betting promo codes

Catena Media provides exclusive online gambling and sports betting content to OregonLive.com, including analysis, tools and sportsbook and online casino offers to help bettors get in on the action. Please wager responsibly.

Experience meets youth as the Cleveland Browns visit the Houston Texans on Saturday to kick off the NFL’s Super Wild Card Weekend. The AFC playoff matchup from NRG Stadium is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. ET start on NBC.

Wager on the Browns-Texans point spread, game total and player props while taking advantage of our top online sportsbook welcome promo code offers which currently are worth more than a combined $4,550 in new-customer bonuses.

The Browns won seven of their final 10 regular season games to finish 11-6 and claim the AFC’s top wild-card spot as the fifth seed.

Cleveland ranked 10th in scoring (23.3 points per game) but that average jumped to 28.6 in the five contests veteran QB Joe Flacco started late in the season.

Led by NFL Defensive Player of the Year candidate Myles Garrett and a strong secondary, the Cleveland defense permitted the fewest total (270.2) and passing yards (164.7) per contest while giving up an average of 21.3 points.

Houston (10-7), meanwhile, was one of the league’s biggest surprises, going from worst to first to win the AFC South under first-year coach DeMeco Ryans and rookie QB C.J. Stroud.

The Texans ranked 13th in scoring (22.2 ppg) and 11th in scoring defense (20.8).

With Stroud sidelined with a concussion in Week 16, Flacco threw for 368 yards and a trio of TDs in leading Cleveland to a 36-22 win in Houston.

Stroud is back and ready to go for his postseason debut, but the visiting Browns are a consensus 2-point favorite (-135 moneyline) Saturday. The game total is in the 44.5-point range.

Among QBs who played at least 10 games, Stroud led the league this season with an average of 273.9 passing yards per outing while throwing 23 TD passes and only five interceptions.

But Stroud, the overwhelming favorite to win the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year award, couldn’t have drawn a worse playoff matchup as he’ll run up against the Browns’ league-best passing D, which ranked third with 18 interceptions in the regular season.

The Browns also have the advantage of coach and QB playoff experience. And with Flacco set to make his 16th postseason start (10-5 with the Ravens) Saturday, it must be noted that quarterbacks making their first playoff start are only 17-36 since 2002 when facing an experienced postseason QB, per NFL analyst Evan Abrams.

Both are ample reasons to back the Browns on the short spread.

The Browns surrendered the second-fewest passing yards (185.2 per game) to opposing QBs this season.

That’s right in line with Stroud’s average when facing a top-10 passing defense in terms of yards per game allowed. The Texans’ rookie did so five times (1-4 record) among his 15 starts during the season and averaged only 184.2 yards while throwing three TD passes and one interception.

• Click on your desired sportsbook promo code link and tap the button that leads to the account creation page.
• Fill out the required fields, including the specific code if required.
• Make a qualifying, minimum first deposit.
• Place your initial bet on Saturday’s Browns-Texans wild-card game or another qualifying market.

Complete details on each of the offers can be found by following our sportsbook promo code links and reviewing the terms and conditions.

Even after you accept a welcome offer, sportsbooks feature excellent recurring promotions all year long, including:

• Odds and profit boosts: Receive enhanced odds and payouts on select markets.
• Bet and get: Earn rewards points and bonuses with each wager you place.
• Referral bonuses: Invite friends to join a sportsbook via your referral link and you — and often your acquaintance as well — will get a bonus bet.

Think you know Oregon and Oregon State football? Play the OregonLive.com Prop Bet Showdown for a chance to win prizes!

If you or a loved one has questions or needs to talk to a professional about gambling, call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit 1800gambler.net