Cleveland Browns 2012-2013 Season Odds

A year has made a huge difference in Cleveland. Entering last season it looked like the Browns future was going to be built around Colt McCoy and Peyton Hillis. Now McCoy is the backup and on the trading block, while Hillis is gone.

Odds to win AFC North: +2000
Regular Season Win Total: 5 (Over even)
Props: Offensive ROY Odds Trent Richardson

The Browns won only four games last season and since that was down from the five they won in 2010 changes were inevitable. Cleveland made a few important ones in the draft taking running back Trent Richardson from Alabama and quarterback Brandon Weeden from Oklahoma State, both in the first round.

Weeden takes over at quarterback, but his receiving corps in Cleveland is pretty thin. Mohamed Massaquoi has been touted for a number of years but is still looking for a breakout season, while Greg Little is looking to build on a promising rookie campaign.

The addition of Richardson can only improve a Browns running game that ranked 28th (95.7 yards per game) in the league last season. Behind Richardson are Montario Hardesty and Chris Ogbonnaya, so Richardson has to be the answer.

On defense the Browns were one of the top units against the pass last season. However, that was at least partially because they were so horrible against the run, everyone just ran the ball down their throats repeatedly. Cleveland was No. 2 (184.9 yards per game) against the pass and No. 30 (147.4 yards) against the run.

The Cleveland rebuild project continues this season and unless a miracle happens to the offense with the addition of Weeden and Richardson another losing season for the Browns is in the cards.

Odds to win AFC North at Bovada as of August 20
Baltimore Ravens+130
Pittsburgh Steelers +125
Cincinnati Bengals +400
Cleveland Browns +2000

2012 Cleveland Brown Schedule (All Times Eastern)

01 Sep 9 PHI @ CLE (Cleveland Browns Stadium 1:00pm FOX)
02 Sep 16 CLE @ CIN ( Paul Brown Stadium 1:00pm CBS)
03 Sep 23 BUF @ CLE (Cleveland Browns Stadium 1:00pm CBS)
04 Sep 27 CLE @ BAL (M&T Bank Stadium 8:20pm NFL)
05 Oct 7 CLE @ NYG (New Meadowlands Stadium 1:00pm CBS)
06 Oct 14 CIN @ CLE (Cleveland Browns Stadium 1:00pm CBS)
07 Oct 21 CLE @ IND (Lucas Oil Stadium 1:00pm CBS)
08 Oct 28 SD @ CLE (Cleveland Browns Stadium 1:00 pm CBS)
09 Nov 4 BAL @ CLE (Cleveland Browns Stadium 1:00pm CBS)
10 BYE
11 Nov 18 CLE @ DAL (Cowboys Stadium 1:00pm CBS)
12 Nov 25 PIT @ CLE (Cleveland Browns Stadium 1:00pm CBS)
13 Dec 2 CLE @ OAK ( O.co Coliseum 4:25pm CBS)
14 Dec 9 KC @ CLE (Cleveland Browns Stadium 1:00pm CBS
15 Dec 16 WAS @ CLE (Cleveland Browns Stadium 1:00pm FOX)
16 Dec 23 CLE @ DEN (Sports Authority Field at Mile High 4:05pm CBS)
17 Dec 30 CLE @ PIT (Heinz Field 1:00pm CBS)

Cleveland Browns 2011-2012 Season Odds Preview

Cleveland finished with a 5-11 record last season, the sixth time in the last eight years that they’ve had at least 11 losses. The NFC North has not been good to Cleveland, but hopes are that the pieces are being put into place to start moving in the right direction.

Despite managing only five wins in 2010, two of those wins came against New Orleans and New England, two of the NFL’s best. If Cleveland can bring their best game to the field more consistently, they could get to seven wins for just the second time in nine seasons.

Odds to Win AFC North: +800
Regular Season Win Total: Over 6.5 (-150)
Props: MVP Odds Peyton Hillis 50/1

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Cleveland seems to finally have their backfield figured out with quarterback Colt McCoy and star running back Peyton Hillis. McCoy had a decent rookie season, throwing for 1,576 yards and six touchdowns (with nine interceptions) in eight games. He has a ways to go, but a strong preseason suggests he’s ready to improve as a full time starter.

Hillis had a huge breakout season, rushing for 1,177 yards and 11 touchdowns on just 270 carries. If he can prove last season wasn’t a fluke, he should once again be the star of the offense.

The Browns’ defense wasn’t very good last season, especially against the rush, finishing 27th after surrendering 129.4 yards per game. Losing defensive tackle Shaun Rogers won’t help matters, and the Browns will have to count on rookie defensive end Jabaal Sheard to help shore up the defensive line.

New defensive coordinator Dick Jauron will have his work cut out for him in trying to get Cleveland’s defense up to speed.

Cleveland isn’t ready to compete for the AFC North title, as they are still too far behind Pittsburgh and Baltimore in the talent department. That said, with Hillis and McCoy, the offense seems to have some good players to build around; and the youth movement on defense will pay dividends long term. In the meantime, Cleveland will just have to settle for trying to improve on last season’s record and finishing ahead of in-state rival Cincinnati.   

Week 1: vs. Cincinnati

AFC North Odds at Bodog as of August 30:
Pittsburgh Steelers -110
Baltimore Ravens +120   
Cleveland Browns +800   
Cincinnati Bengals +1800

2011 Cleveland Browns Schedule (All times Eastern)

01 Sep 11 CIN @ CLE (Cleveland Browns Stadium 1:00pm CBS)
02 Sep 18 CLE @ IND (Lucas Oil Stadium 1:00pm CBS)
03 Sep 25 MIA @ CLE (Cleveland Browns Stadium 1:00pm CBS)
04 Oct 02 TEN @ CLE (Cleveland Browns Stadium 1:00pm CBS)
05 Bye
06 Oct 16 CLE @ OAK (O.co Coliseum 4:05pm CBS)
07 Oct 23 SEA @ CLE (Cleveland Browns Stadium 1:00pm FOX)
08 Oct 30 CLE @ SF (Candlestick Park 4:15pm CBS)
09 Nov 06 CLE @ HOU (Reliant Stadium 1:00pm CBS)
10 Nov 13 STL @ CLE (Cleveland Browns Stadium 1:00pm FOX)
11 Nov 20 JAC @ CLE (Cleveland Browns Stadium 1:00pm CBS)
12 Nov 27 CLE @ CIN (Paul Brown Stadium 1:00pm CBS)
13 Dec 04 BAL @ CLE (Cleveland Browns Stadium 1:00pm CBS)
14 Dec 08 CLE @ PIT (Heinz Field 8:20pm NFLN)
15 Dec 18 CLE @ ARI (University of Phoenix Stadium 4:15pm CBS)
16 Dec 24 CLE @ BAL (M&T Bank Stadium 1:00pm CBS)
17 Jan 01 PIT @ CLE (Cleveland Browns Stadium 1:00pm CBS)