NFL betting sites have fallen out of love with the Cleveland Browns. That is just one of the takeaways after five weeks of the 2019 season. The Browns entered the season as semi-favorites to go all the way in 2020. People who bet the Super Bowl couldn’t help but stumble upon Cleveland somewhat high-up on many oddsboards. To put it bluntly, the Browns’ odds were better than they had any right to be. No doubt there was reason to be optimistic. Hue Jackson was fired for impersonating a football head coach. Starting QB Baker Mayfield had shown a lot of promise. Wide receiver Odell “I go to a blind hairstylist” Beckham Jr. signed with the team.
Lost in all the hoopla was the fact that those were more reasons for concern than for joy. New head coach Freddie Kitchens is as inexperienced as they come. Mayfield is still green as grass. And OBJr is one scandal away from turning into Antonio Brown.
Updated Super Bowl odds from MyBookie.ag:
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS +225
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS +500
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS +725
GREEN BAY PACKERS +1100
DALLAS COWBOYS +1300
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES +1300
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS +1300
LOS ANGELES RAMS +2000
I think we can safely go ahead and skip the New England Patriots and the Kansas City Chiefs. The latter still have one of the best offenses and one of the worst defenses in the league. And the former are enjoying their best start of a season since 2015. If anything, they are even more heavily favored by NFL betting sites. Let’s talk instead about the New Orleans Saints. There was one question in many people’s minds following Drew Brees’s injury. Would the Saints’ season be salvageable by the time Brees returns?
A few weeks later, the question now is, will Teddy Bridgewater relinquish the starting spot to Brees? New Orleans’ only loss came precisely on the game Brees became injured (9-27 to the Los Angeles Rams). The Saints have gone 3-0 SU and ATS since that loss. Moreover, they have scored 25.3 points per game and allowed 20.3 in that stretch. Bridgewater is currently posting career-bests in completion percentage (70.2%) and passer rating (99.5). He is 85 of 121 for 849 passing yards with six TDs and two picks.
Update Super Bowl odds from XBet.ag:
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS +225
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS +500
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS +725
GREEN BAY PACKERS +1100
DALLAS COWBOYS +1300
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES +1300
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS +1300
LOS ANGELES RAMS +2000
And speaking of the Rams, they have not quite lived up to expectations. The Horned Ones picked up where they had left off last season. They started 3-0 SU and ATS this season, but they scored fewer points in each of those games. The Rams racked up a season-high 40 points in Week 4 against the Bucs. However, they also allowed a staggering 55 points; the most they have allowed since Oakland shut them out 0-52 in 2014. As well as the most points the Rams have surrendered in the Sean McVay era. Speaking of whom, it seems as if opposing teams have started to see him coming. For example, the Seahawks, who managed to hold the Rams off 30-29 at home in Week 5. Or rather the Rams managed to miss a would-be game-winning field goal.
Let’s wrap things up with the Green Bay Packers. The Yellow and Green are 4-1 SU and ATS in 2019. The Packers have been their usual mediocre selves on both sides of the ball. The reason for their current success is obvious to anyone with an above average IQ. That reason is of course Aaron Rodgers. As long as he remains healthy, Green Bay has a chance. And NFL betting sites know it.
