Ravens -13.5 vs Browns (1 Viewer)

[Shaun]

I am in a football pool with 10 other people, we all pick against the opening spread that the commish sets up.

Now I am a Ravens fan, but am seriously considering taking the Browns with this spread, I know the Ravens are going to win this one, I just don't see them truly running the score up on the ground and am thinking that they just stick to the running game for the most part on the lowly-browns. I'm thinking the score will be something like 24-12 allowing the Browns to cover the spread.

But then again, I'm scared to pick the Browns knowing that from what I've heard from others in the pool, they're all picking the Ravens and are thinking it's going to be a blow-out, shut-out, etc. etc. etc.

My question to the board, who do you pick on the largest spread of the week and why?

Looking forward to the responses...

 

[amnesiac]

i would be shocked if the Ravens don't win by at least 14 points.

Browns offense can't get in sync, and the defense can't stop anything.

 

[baconisgood]

I am in a football pool with 10 other people, we all pick against the opening spread that the commish sets up. Now I am a Ravens fan, but am seriously considering taking the Browns with this spread, I know the Ravens are going to win this one, I just don't see them truly running the score up on the ground and am thinking that they just stick to the running game for the most part on the lowly-browns. I'm thinking the score will be something like 24-12 allowing the Browns to cover the spread.But then again, I'm scared to pick the Browns knowing that from what I've heard from others in the pool, they're all picking the Ravens and are thinking it's going to be a blow-out, shut-out, etc. etc. etc.My question to the board, who do you pick on the largest spread of the week and why? Looking forward to the responses...

The right side of the Browns offensive line is a mess right now- Quinn has been sacked 9 times so far (on pace for 72! for the season) and thats with Joe Thomas absolutely dominating Jared Allen (1 tackle, no sacks game 1)- I wouldn't be surprised if 7-8 of those sacks came off the right side. People can talk about Quinn sucking, having no #2 WR, the defensive problems but this is the biggest hole on the team. As long as they are getting neither running room nor protection from that side their offense is going to be stagnant and points will not accumulate. Eventually their defense will wear down like it did the first two games (Browns have given up 17 points in the first half and 44 in the 2nd) and the Ravens will run up the score- even if they do so "accidentally" by breaking off big runs while running out the clock. Take the Ravens at less than 14- the Browns have a real shot at going 0-16 this year.

 

[Shaun]

Well the funny thing is, my friend already locked up the pool cause everyone had their picks in (were due by 5PM today)... and I was the ONLY one with the Browns! CBS has it split at 50/50 given the spread, but in our league of 11, I'm the only one, so I'll take my chances, I'm basically hoping for rainy & wet field conditions and a low scoring game...!

Sometimes you have to take chances in these kind of leagues and go against the grain, sometimes they pay off, sometimes they don't, I did take a lot of chances this week on the spreads so I'm hoping it pays off.

 

[Garts]

I'd consider the Ravens by 17.5 actually.

 

[Arizona Ron]

Not betting this game.

 

[Chicago Hooligan]

A defensive/kick return TD is the only hope of the Browns getting into double digits, so covering is strictly up to Baltimore's offense.

 

[Dragon1952]

The Browns were only able to generate 200 yds of offense and 6 pts against Denver last week, and are liable to have even more difficulty vs the Ravens. Baltimore has 3 very capable RB's to wear the Browns down and eat up clock. I wouldn't be surprised to see a 40 min - 20 min time-of-possession difference, in favor of the Ravens, who will likely only have to score about 20 pts to get the cover. They have already totaled 31 and 38, and are 2-0 ATS. Since the beginning of the 2008 season, and including last year's playoffs, the Ravens are 9-1 ATS as a favorite. This is liable to be a 31-3 type game.

 

[Yellow Line is Unoffcial]

If the browns cant score, it only takes 14 points to cover.

 

[ScottNorwood]

13.5 spread on a division game? It's a trap.

 

[John Mamula]

13.5 spread on a division game? It's a trap.

No way would I take the Ravens. Now that's not to say that there is no way the Ravens win by 14+. But I would take the Browns here.Very few NFL teams are two TDs better than another.

 

[FunkyPlutos]

13.5 spread on a division game? It's a trap.

No way would I take the Ravens. Now that's not to say that there is no way the Ravens win by 14+. But I would take the Browns here.Very few NFL teams are two TDs better than another.

Both s

 

[cstu]

I wouldn't bet the game, but the only reason I think it could be close is that the Ravens are going to run all day and eat up the clock. If the Browns get lucky with a couple TD's and hit a FG or two then it could be a 28-17 game.

 

[Jewell]

I'd take the Ravens.

The Ravens offense has looked great this year, while the Browns have scored only one offensive touchdown in the last 33 quarters of football. I repeat -- the Browns have one offensive TD in the last eight games. Wow. The Lions are a better football team than the Browns right now.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

Not that it means anything going forward, but some Ravens/Browns games in the past have been weird affairs. I could definitely see a Quinn benching if things are bad & Anderson doing a mad-bomber thing and either winning or back-dooring the spread. I wouldn't touch this one as a bet with a ten foot pole.

 

[Bills_Fan11]

Yes the 'trap' comments are such good posting. Vegas obviously is trying to goad everyone into taking the Ravens because they know the Browns are the right side at 13.5. If it gets up to 14.5 make sure to take the Ravens though.

 

[baconisgood]

I'd take the Ravens.

The Ravens offense has looked great this year, while the Browns have scored only one offensive touchdown in the last 33 quarters of football. I repeat -- the Browns have one offensive TD in the last eight games. Wow. The Lions are a better football team than the Browns right now.

The Lions are better on offense, not better on D or special teams.

 

[amnesiac]

13.5 spread on a division game? It's a trap.

No way would I take the Ravens. Now that's not to say that there is no way the Ravens win by 14+. But I would take the Browns here.

Very few NFL teams are two TDs better than another.

the Ravens are two TDs better than the Browns. :(

 

[MAC_32]

I'd take the Ravens.

The Ravens offense has looked great this year, while the Browns have scored only one offensive touchdown in the last 33 quarters of football. I repeat -- the Browns have one offensive TD in the last eight games. Wow. The Lions are a better football team than the Browns right now.

The offense is not good and the Browns were the worst team in the league the first two weeks, but this stat is really annoying me. Ken Dorsey and Bruce Gradkowski were the QB's for more than half of those games. What this offense did with those two under center is meaningless toward what this offense will do going forward.

 

[John Zaleski]

34-0 BALT

 

[Jewell]

I'd take the Ravens.

The Ravens offense has looked great this year, while the Browns have scored only one offensive touchdown in the last 33 quarters of football. I repeat -- the Browns have one offensive TD in the last eight games. Wow. The Lions are a better football team than the Browns right now.

The offense is not good and the Browns were the worst team in the league the first two weeks, but this stat is really annoying me. Ken Dorsey and Bruce Gradkowski were the QB's for more than half of those games. What this offense did with those two under center is meaningless toward what this offense will do going forward.

I agree with some of what you're saying. The Dorsey/Gradkowski era is not emblematic of what the Browns are now, but what are the Browns now? They still have only one offensive TD this season, and I saw Brady Quinn throw a Charlie Brown-esque backword pass in the Vikings game. This team is not very good even without either Dorsey or Gradkowski under center. I stand by my statements that the Lions are better, and the Ravens will cover the spread.

 

[MAC_32]

I'd take the Ravens.

The Ravens offense has looked great this year, while the Browns have scored only one offensive touchdown in the last 33 quarters of football. I repeat -- the Browns have one offensive TD in the last eight games. Wow. The Lions are a better football team than the Browns right now.

The offense is not good and the Browns were the worst team in the league the first two weeks, but this stat is really annoying me. Ken Dorsey and Bruce Gradkowski were the QB's for more than half of those games. What this offense did with those two under center is meaningless toward what this offense will do going forward.

I agree with some of what you're saying. The Dorsey/Gradkowski era is not emblematic of what the Browns are now, but what are the Browns now? They still have only one offensive TD this season, and I saw Brady Quinn throw a Charlie Brown-esque backword pass in the Vikings game. This team is not very good even without either Dorsey or Gradkowski under center. I stand by my statements that the Lions are better, and the Ravens will cover the spread.

I agree, that stat just irks me.

 

[kaa]

13.5 spread on a division game? It's a trap.

Its debatable that the Browns are an NFL team. Plus in recent years the Browns have proven how worthless division arguments are by rolling off 8 straight losses to the Steelers.

 

[daveR]

If the spread were 30, you'd take the points. If it were 3, you'd lay 'em. At some level, though, you wouldn't do either. Where is THAT level & how wide is it?

 

[baconisgood]

13.5 spread on a division game? It's a trap.

Its debatable that the Browns are an NFL team. Plus in recent years the Browns have proven how worthless division arguments are by rolling off 8 straight losses to the Steelers.

Half of those games were very close- 10-6, 31-28, 24-20, 34-21 (ok that last one is a stretch- but the Browns have covered 3/8ths of the time)

 

[FantasyTrader]

The Browns will have more success passing on the Ravens than they've had in any game this year.

I agreee with others. 13.5 is a trap - not that I'd touch the game with real money.

 

[fatness]

The Browns seem like a mess right now, on the field and off.

After a spirited practice, the Cleveland Browns were still in a playful mood so they decided to pull a prank one of their rookies. Coye Francies didn't care for the joke.

The first-year cornerback, incensed over being soaked with water by some of his teammates, threw a bucket of ice and at least one errant punch during a skirmish in the Browns' locker room on Friday. As the Browns returned from practice, a dripping-wet Francies stormed into the locker room lugging a Gatorade bucket full of ice. Before he could be stopped, Francies tossed the ice on cornerback Brandon McDonald, hitting him with cubes that covered the floor.

At that point, it was not clear if Francies was playing along and messing with McDonald. Then, his mood, and the vibe in the room, turned more serious.

Francies flung some more ice in the direction of safety Mike Adams before heading toward safety Abram Elam's corner cubicle. With the bucket on the floor, Francies then swung his arms at Elam, who deflected the blows. Pro Bowl nose tackle Shaun Rogers then stepped in and grabbed Francies by the back of the shirt and escorted him out a side door as other players came to help.

"Calm down, man," Rogers told Francies as he pushed him outside.

"Welcome to the Browns locker room!" wide receiver Braylon Edwards hollered.

The incident happened while the locker room was open to reporters.

Link

 

[Garts]

 

[cstu]

The Browns will have more success passing on the Ravens than they've had in any game this year. I agreee with others. 13.5 is a trap - not that I'd touch the game with real money.

Right, if they'd actually try to pass. The play calling is absolutely horrendous and I get the impression that they aren't even trying to win the game.

 

[cstu]

The Browns seem like a mess right now, on the field and off.

After a spirited practice, the Cleveland Browns were still in a playful mood so they decided to pull a prank one of their rookies. Coye Francies didn't care for the joke.

The first-year cornerback, incensed over being soaked with water by some of his teammates, threw a bucket of ice and at least one errant punch during a skirmish in the Browns' locker room on Friday. As the Browns returned from practice, a dripping-wet Francies stormed into the locker room lugging a Gatorade bucket full of ice. Before he could be stopped, Francies tossed the ice on cornerback Brandon McDonald, hitting him with cubes that covered the floor.

At that point, it was not clear if Francies was playing along and messing with McDonald. Then, his mood, and the vibe in the room, turned more serious.

Francies flung some more ice in the direction of safety Mike Adams before heading toward safety Abram Elam's corner cubicle. With the bucket on the floor, Francies then swung his arms at Elam, who deflected the blows. Pro Bowl nose tackle Shaun Rogers then stepped in and grabbed Francies by the back of the shirt and escorted him out a side door as other players came to help.

"Calm down, man," Rogers told Francies as he pushed him outside.

"Welcome to the Browns locker room!" wide receiver Braylon Edwards hollered.

The incident happened while the locker room was open to reporters.

Link

Lighten up, Francies.