Buffalo Bills vs. Cleveland Browns, 8/17/18 NFL Prediction & Odds

Bills vs. Browns Friday Prediction

The Cleveland Browns continue to be one of the focal points of the NFL offseason, including being the showcase team on “Hard Knocks.” Will the Browns win their second straight preseason game when they host the Bills at 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday?

Game Snapshot

413 Buffalo Bills at 414 Cleveland Browns

7:30 p.m. ET, Friday, August 17, 2018

FirstEnergy Stadium, Cleveland, OH

Betting Odds & Public Betting

According to oddsmakers, the Browns are now 3.5-point home favorites to beat the Bills after opening as 4-point dogs. The total, meanwhile, hit the board at 37.5 but was bet up to 41.5. As of this writing, 53% of betting tickets are on the Browns to cover the point spread.

Buffalo Bills

Corey Coleman is expected to play with the second-team offense against the Browns on Friday. Acquired from the Browns just over a week ago, it is poetic he will get his first action as a Bill in Cleveland. Coleman has the talent to win a roster spot, but he faces an uphill climb to learn the playbook well enough to be a contributor before Week 1. "We’re getting to the point now where it needs to be the former in terms of ‘here’s the playbook, you’ve got to know it,'" coach Sean McDermott said. On the bright side, Coleman only has to beat out the likes of Rod Streater for a roster spot.

Cleveland Browns

Browns OC Todd Haley said Baker Mayfield has "made consistent progress." "I thought it wasn’t too big for him," Haley said of the preseason opener. "He was by no means perfect, but he kept his cool. He was never flustered. I think it’s clear to everybody he can really throw the football." Despite the strong showing in the first preseason game, the Browns have vowed to stick to the plan at quarterback, and Haley tempered his praise by saying Mayfield has to "keep working" and "keep learning from the older guys in the room." Tyrod Taylor is going to start Week 1, but Mayfield should see the field at some point as a rookie.

Betting Trends

Buffalo

The Bills are 4-1 against the spread dating back to last season.

Cleveland

The Browns have failed to cover the spread in 35 of their last 51 games with one push.

Prediction

There inevitably are teams every year that try hard in preseason. They’re out to prove a point to themselves or maybe their fan base and they wind up getting hyped for all four preseason matchups. The Browns fit the mold this year. They went 0-16 a year ago and if you’ve seen the first two episodes of “Hard Knocks,” you know this team is desperate to change the losing mindset that has been embedded in the team for a decade. I wouldn’t be shocked to see the Browns go 4-0 in preseason trying to prove a point and thus, I like them tonight against the Bills.

 

NFL Preseason Prediction: Cleveland Browns -3.5