Are the Browns a Good Pick in NFL Odds for Week 3 Over the Colts?

Written by on September 21, 2017

The start of a new football season is a time when hope springs eternal for most teams, but there are always a few who appear to be a lost cause right from the start. The Cleveland Browns have certainly earned that reputation, as they have been one of the worst teams in the league for as long as anyone can remember. They hit rock bottom last season with a 1-15 record, but a good draft and off-season left some feeling that they might take a bit of a step forward this year. It’s still very early, but an 0-2 record to start the season is not doing much to inspire their NFL Odds and faith in those fans who had confidence in this new batch of players. If you want to see total despondency, though, you need only take a look at the Indianapolis Colts and their NFL lines for Week 3. With Andrew Luck, they definitely have a franchise QB, but that only helps if he can actually get on the field. Luck is out with a shoulder injury that appears to be a whole lot worse than we all expected. You know you have hit rock bottom as a team when you are a 1-point underdog at home to the Cleveland Browns, which is what the Colts are this weekend. The O/U for this game is set at 41 points.

Browns at Colts NFL Odds for Week 3 & Game Preview

When: Sunday, September 24 at 1 PM EST Where: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis TV: CBS Radio: 92.3 FM (Cleveland) / 97.1 FM (Indianapolis) Live Stream: NFL Game Pass NFL Odds: Cleveland Browns -1.5 (41)

Top NFL Odds to Bet Straight Up in Week 3

Series History

  • Total Meetings: 33
  • First Meeting: Browns 28 – Colts 0 (1947)
  • Last Meeting: Browns 24 – Colts 25 (2014)
  • All-Time Series: Browns leads 17-16-0
  • Largest Margin of Victory: Browns +42 points
  • Longest Win Streak: Browns W7
  • Current Win Streak: Colts W2

Why bet on the Cleveland Browns in the NFL Odds?

The Cleveland Browns decided to roll the dice to start the season, naming rookie DeShone Kizer to the starting QB position. The results have been what you might expect from a rookie, but we should also remember that he has had to face two of the best defenses in the league in the form of the Steelers and the Ravens. This weekend may prove to be a little easier for him, and he will almost certainly not be subjected to the sort of blitzing pressure that he faced in the opening two weeks of the season. The Browns were a little unlucky in Week 1 versus the Steelers, losing by 3 points at home, but they were totally outclassed by Baltimore last weekend. The Browns have not had a lot of joy versus the Colts in recent meetings, and have in fact only managed 1 win in their last 8 versus Indy. That said, those games were all against Andrew Luck, and it should be noted that the Browns have been able to cover in 4 of their last 5 games versus the Colts.

Team Statistics

Offense:
  • Average Score For: 14
  • Total Yards: 311.5
  • Rush Yards: 75
  • Passing Yards: 236.5
Defense:
  • Average Score Against: 22.5
  • Total Yards: 313.5
  • Rush Yards: 85.5
  • Passing Yards: 228

Why bet on the Indianapolis Colts in the NFL Odds?

There is genuine concern that Andrew Luck may not see any action this season, and even if he is able to return, should the Colts really run the risk of putting him in there when they have an O-line that resembles Swiss cheese? The Colts went with Scott Tolzien in Week 1, but generated very little in a 46-9 hammering at the hands of the LA Rams, a team not really noted for their high-powered offensive abilities. Jacoby Brissett took over at QB, but the NFL Odds for Week 3 are against the Colts. They switched to Jacoby Brissett at the QB spot for Week 2, and while they kept things closer, thy blew a lead and ended up going down 16-13 to the Arizona Cardinals. It’s tough to predict what they are going to do this weekend, but the issues of this Colts team run a whole lot deeper than just the QB question. The Colts are just 2-4 ATS in their last 6 home games, and 5 of their last 6 meetings versus Cleveland have ended with the total going UNDER.

Team Statistics

Offense:
  • Average Score For: 11
  • Total Yards: 245.5
  • Rush Yards: 75.5
  • Passing Yards: 170
Defense:
  • Average Score Against: 31
  • Total Yards: 381
  • Rush Yards: 73
  • Passing Yards: 308

Expert Pick and Final Score Prediction

What we have here is a pair of struggling offenses, so I would not be surprised to see the UNDER 41 come up in this one. I think the Cleveland Brown will get their first win of the season on a very close game. Score Prediction: Cleveland Browns 21 – Indianapolis Colts 17