Lions Browns Betting – Lions Roar In Clash Of Up-And-Comers
The sports betting odds for Detroit and Cleveland have them as longshots for the Super Bowl, and deservedly so, but both teams are on the way up with talent on both sides of the ball, but especially on offense. Look for them to put on a show when the Lions head to Cleveland to face the Browns in a shootout.
- What: NFL Betting
- When: Friday, August 19th, 7:30 PM ET
- Where: Browns Stadium, Cleveland, OH
- Pick: Detroit Lions
Why Bet On Detroit Lions
The Lions put in one of the best performances during the first week of preseason in a 34-3 rout of Cincinnati at home, and it was good to see a healthy Matt Stafford running the show, going 6-of-7 for 71 yards and two scores in his brief time on the field. He hooked up with Calvin Johnson for a 26-yard touchdown, and if Stafford can stay healthy this duo has the chance to be something special. Shaun Hill outplayed Drew Stanton to keep the inside track on the backup role, and running back Aaron Brown actually led the team in receptions, trying to take advantage of his chance with Maurice Morris on the sidelines with a fractured hand. Defensively, the Lions forced three turnovers out of the Bengals and kept them out of the end zone. Ndamokung Suh, the reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year, welcomed Cincinnati rookie Andy Dalton to the league with a thunderous shot that resulted in an interception by Chris Houston.
Detroit didn’t run the ball that well against the Bengals, so that will be an area that coach Jim Schwartz will focus on in practice this week. The Lions also committed six penalties and three of the flags moved the chains for the Bengals, and discipline is going to be a recurring theme for the Lions throughout the season. The Lions had the ninth-most penalties in the league in 2010 and they can’t afford to give teams extra chances on either side of the ball.
Why Bet On Cleveland Browns
The Browns defeated the Super Bowl champions from Green Bay 27-17 at home, and if the first game for the Pat Shurmur-Colt McCoy partnership is any indication, Cleveland fans are going to be excited for years to come. McCoy was 9-of-10 for 135 yards and a 26-yard touchdown pass to Josh Cribbs, and rookie receiver Greg Little caught a couple of passes for 20 yards as well for the Browns, who have a lot of young pieces in the lineup. But Shurmur was praised for his work in St. Louis with Sam Bradford, McCoy’s friend and rival in college, and he knows how to communicate with young quarterbacks. Peyton Hillis also found the scoresheet for the Browns, while linebacker Titus Young broke a 17-all tie by running a fumble in 43 yards for a score. But the most impressive part of this game was McCoy’s brief cameo, and the Cleveland offense should be improved in 2011, although they’re going to make mistakes due to their youth.
Seneca Wallace and Jarrett Brown threw a pick each, but Wallace is still in pole position for the backup role because of his experience. The Cleveland defense got to Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers a couple of times, but he still managed to throw a touchdown on one of his two series to show that they still have some work to do on that side of the ball. The Browns allowed 263 yards through the air, and their secondary is pretty young.
How It Will Play Out
Look for the Browns to come in as 3.5-point NFL betting favorites at home, and they’re 1-2 SU and 2-1 ATS in three regular-season meetings with the Lions since 2001. Both teams are on the ascent with a lot of young talent on the field, so this should be an entertaining game to watch. As usual, a lot of focus will be on the quarterbacks as Stafford and McCoy are two pivots with bright futures, but Stafford has to prove he can stay healthy, and McCoy is in his second year in the league and with a new head coach.
Offense should be the story of this game, so check the posted total before laying your wager. Take The Detroit Lions to come out on top in your online betting book.
Lions Browns Betting Pick – Detroit Lions
