Browns open as early favorites against the Titans
By Thomas Moore
Sep 13, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel (2) and Cleveland Browns quarterback Josh McCown (13) during the pre game warmups for their game against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports
The betting lines are out in Las Vegas for Week 2 of the NFL season, and the Cleveland Browns have opened as early favorites against the Tennessee Titans.
According to the website Oddsshark, the Browns are -1 against the Titans for Cleveland’s home opener at FirstEnergy Stadium.
That line should change – possibly significantly – as the week progresses once everyone learns more about the status of starting quarterback Josh McCown, who left Sunday’s game against the New York Jets with a concussion after playing just one series.
In his place, backup Johnny Manziel did a respectable job, but still could only manage 10 points on nine offensive drives – including just three on the final eight drives of the game.
On the other side, the Titans come into the game off a record-setting performance by rookie quarterback Marcus Mariota, who threw four touchdowns and posted a perfect quarterback rating in his NFL debut.
After watching what journeyman quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick did against the Browns on Sunday, one can only imagine the damage Mariota can inflict if the Browns’s defense doesn’t play better against the Titans.
From a gambling standpoint, Cleveland is:
- 0-5 SU in its last 5 games
- The total has gone under in 11 of Cleveland’s last 13 games
- The total has gone under in 5 of Cleveland’s last 5 games at home
- Cleveland is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing Tennessee
- The total has gone over in 5 of Cleveland’s last 7 games when playing Tennessee
- Cleveland is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing at home against Tennessee
- Cleveland is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Tennessee
Meanwhile, the Titans are:
- Tennessee is 1-6 ATS in its last 7 games
- Tennessee is 1-10 SU in its last 11 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Tennessee’s last 5 games
- Tennessee is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
- Tennessee is 1-7 SU in its last 8 games on the road
- Tennessee is 2-3-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Cleveland
- Tennessee is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing Cleveland
- The total has gone OVER in 5 of Tennessee’s last 7 games when playing Cleveland
- Tennessee is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Cleveland
- Tennessee is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Cleveland
Home openers have not been kind to the Browns overall, irregardless of the betting lines, although Cleveland did break a 10-game losing streak last year when they defeated New Orleans in the home opener.