2019 Cleveland Browns Odds to win the Super Bowl with Expert Betting Predictions

The Browns are among the Super Bowl favorites , and it is tough to get your head around. Hue Jackson was fired halfway through last season with a truly pathetic 3-36-1 record with the team. They were just a mess. But they closed out at 5-3, had a huge offseason, and now everyone loves them. Some of it makes sense, of course - they have charismatic talent, and everyone loves a breakout story for a perpetual loser. But you can't help but feel like it is at least possible that people are a little ahead of themselves here. You have to learn to win in this league. But however things turn out, the Browns have made the offseason more fun, and will be very fun to watch this year, too.

Cleveland Browns Coaching

Getting rid of Jackson came a year and a half too late, so any change is positive. Gregg Williams did a great job as an interim, but a fresher approach likely fits this better. But is Freddie Kitchens the right choice? He was the interim offensive coordinator last year after Todd Haley was fired along with Jackson, and he had a great relationship with Baker Mayfield. If he can continue that in his new role, it will obviously be a positive. And he has worked under coaches like Saban, Parcells and Arians, so he has seen how it should be done. But he is new to this role, and he likes to talk. He has felt like a guy who is right on the edge before things even get started, so I am a little concerned with how he will deal with actual adversity. I'm not counting him out, but I don't see him as a lock, either. Kitchens assembled a solid staff. Todd Monken, who had been running the Tampa Bay offense the last three years and had success running the offense at Oklahoma State, is running the offense. And Steve Wilk, who flamed out in his one year as Arizona head coach last year but had a good run before that in Carolina, is running the defense.

Cleveland Browns Quarterback Situation

It's the Baker Mayfield show, and from where I sit that is a very good thing. He was so strong in the second half last year and should be even better this year. Behind him is a bit of a mess of a room. Drew Stanton is back as a backup, and he is joined by Garrett Gilbert, who was the leading passer in the AAF last year when the league folded, and rookie David Blough, the undrafted free agent from Purdue. An injury would be the problem, but if Mayfield is healthy, they will be just fine.

How The Cleveland Browns Improved

They needed to improve the offense and get Mayfield some tools. And they sure did. Getting Odell Beckham Jr. was a no-brainer at receiver, and it changes everything - he is so dangerous himself, and he buys more room and less attention for the other guys on the offense. The price wasn't bad, either - though losing Jabril Peppers hurts a little. And they added Kareem Hunt, the troubled running back who will be suspended for the first half of the season. I wouldn't want him on my team given his recent history, but as a player he is more than legitimate. They drafted defensive players with five of seven of their draft picks, including CB Greedy Williams in the second round, to improve that side of the ball, too.

How The Cleveland Browns Got Worse

There isn't a whole lot to choose here. The biggest concern is probably the number of guys who like to talk on this team. If things are going great, then they will be a lot of fun to watch. But if they hit adversity, or if OBJ isn't getting as many passes as he wants from Mayfield, the attitudes could suddenly become an issue.

Cleveland Browns Schedule Analysis

They get to find their way with more reasonable games against Tennessee and at the Jets before their first massive test against the Rams. Starting in Week 10, they have a soft stretch of three home games. Pittsburgh in the middle will be tough, but Buffalo and Miami likely won't be. Their last five games include four divisional games, so if things are tight it could really be exciting.

2019-20 Cleveland Browns Betting Odds and Trends

The Browns are at +1400 to win the Super Bowl, which has them tied with Indy and Philadelphia and behind only New England, Kansas City, New Orleans and the Rams. They are the co-third choice to win the AFC along with the Colts and Chargers at +700, and the favorites to win their division at +140, though Pittsburgh is close behind at +175. Their season win total is set at 9, with neither side drawing unbalanced action. They are at -125 to make the playoffs, compared to +105 to make them. They are +2000 to have the best record in the league and +3300 to have the worst. Mayfield is the co-fourth choice with Aaron Rodgers to win the MVP at +1200, behind only Patrick Mahomes, Andrew Luck and Carson Wentz. OBJ is at +8000. Greedy Williams, the first-round pick, is a mid-round contender to win the defensive rookie of the year at +2800. Mayfield is the seventh choice to lead the league in passing at +1200, the fifth choice in touchdowns at the same price, and is at +1600 to lead the league in interceptions. Beckham is the 13th choice to lead the league in receptions at +1800, but the co-second choice along with Michael Thomas to lead the league in receiving yards at +800, and the sixth choice in touchdowns at +1200. Nick Chubb is the co-fifth choice along with Derrick Henry and Todd Gurley to lead the league in rushing yards.

2019-20 Cleveland Browns Predictions and NFL Picks

I like the team, but just not as much as a lot of people seem to. They are in the playoff picture for sure, and could certainly win the division, and the schedule isn't brutal, but they are young and will have to figure some things out. And I don't entirely buy into the coaching yet. I would pick them to be in the playoffs if I had to choose, but nothing will surprise me.

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