Pro Football Hall of Fame Game Odds: Jets vs. Browns

The NFL returns on Thursday night when the New York Jets and Cleveland Browns throw down in the annual Pro Football Hall of Fame Game.

We shouldn’t expect to see Aaron Rodgers for the Jets or Deshuan Watson for the Browns. What we will see are two teams hoping to make the playoffs this season.

Check out NFL odds, analysis, and a free pick for Thursday night’s Pro Football Hall of Fame Game.

2023 Pro Football Hall of Fame Game Odds: New York Jets vs. Cleveland Browns Preview| MyBookie HOF Betting Preview

ATS Odds: New York Jets -1.5
Money Line Odds: Jets -124 / Browns +102
Over/Under Total Odds: 33.5

Thursday, Aug. 3 at 8:00 pm ET
Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, Canton, Ohio

Why Bet on NYJ versus Cleveland ?

Although Rodgers won’t start, there is a good chance Zach Wilson will. The former first round draft pick from BYU has had a tough time his first two seasons in the NFL.

Robert Saleh said he wasn’t giving up on Wilson. He just realized Wilson required time to understand the pro game. True to his word, Wilson is second on the depth chart, meaning Zach has made great strides this offseason hanging with the master, Rodgers.

Zach Wilson projects to get enough run in this to show the Jets QB room, and the second offensive unit, is in great shape.

New York Jets Offensive Averages – 2022

Total Yards: 318.2
Passing Yards: 219.0
Rushing Yards: 99.2
Points Scored: 17.4
Turnovers: 23

New York Jets Defensive Averages – 2022

Total Yards: 311.1
Passing Yards: 189.4
Rushing Yards: 121.6
Points Scored: 18.6
Takeaways: 16

Why Bet on Cleveland versus NYJ?

Like the Jets, the Browns project to start a veteran backup in tonight’s Pro Football Hall of Fame Game. The backup, Joshua Dobbs or Kellen Mond, are Deshaun clones without the exceptional talent.

Mond, especially, could do a lot of running. Not only that, but Saleh, the Jets’ coach, won’t put his defensive stars in harms ways in this. So Mond and Dobbs should have a fun night moving the Browns’ offense.

Cleveland Browns Offensive Averages

Total Yards: 349.1
Passing Yards: 202.6
Rushing Yards: 146.5
Points Scored: 21.2
Turnovers: 21

Cleveland Browns Defensive Averages

Total Yards: 331.2
Passing Yards: 196.2
Rushing Yards: 135.0
Points Scored: 22.4
Takeaways: 19

Jets versus Browns Relevant Trends

Jets are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games
NYJ is 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games on a Thursday
Under is 5-0 in the Jets’ last 5 games
Under is 7-1 in the Browns’ last 7 games
Cleveland is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games on a Thursday
Browns are 13-27 ATS in their last 40 games versus AFC

Final Betting Analysis: Pro Football Hall of Fame Game

It’s tough to handicap preseason games. It’s especially tough to handicap the first, but past history provide clues as to how each head coach approaches the preaseason.

Cleveland HC Kevin Stefanski uses these preseason games to evaluate talent. The Browns won their first, but then lost their next two.

Jets’ head coach Robert Saleh uses preseason games to tighten his squad. The Jets won all three of their preseason games from a year ago. Like John Harbaugh at Baltimore, Saleh takes these preseason games and gets his second and third string ready to play like first stringers.

On Thursday night, the Jets should win and cover. Saleh will give Wilson enough run to get comfortable. Saleh is always thinking of the what ifs, so he won’t mess around and instead demand excellence from his second and third string units.

NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame Prediction: New York Jets -1.5 | Bet Jets vs. Browns
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Game