New Orleans Saints vs. Cleveland Browns, 9/16/18 Predictions & Preview

Saints vs. Browns Spread Prediction

One week after losing as a 10-point home favorite to the Bucs, will the New Orleans Saints rebound with a thrashing of the Cleveland Browns? Or will yet another underdog roll into New Orleans and serve the Saints with a loss?

Game Snapshot

277 Cleveland Browns at 278 New Orleans Saints

1:00 p.m. ET, Sunday, September 16

Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, LA

Public Betting Trends

According to oddsmakers from online sports book BetNow.eu, the Saints are 9.5-point favorites to beat the Browns. The total, meanwhile, sits at 49 points. As of this writing, 51% of the public betting tickets are on the Browns to cover the point spread.

Cleveland Browns

The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports the Browns had concerns Josh Gordon was "struggling with his sobriety or on the verge of relapsing." Gordon "wasn't himself" after showing up late to the Browns' facility with a hamstring setback. PFT's Mike Florio adds Gordon was "habitually tardy" to meetings, and Saturday's incident led Cleveland to finally move on. Off-field rumors are nothing new for Gordon, but this is a potential dent to his trade value given his Stage 3 status. The Browns will release Gordon if they don't trade him before next week.

New Orleans Saints

Saints LG Andrus Peat (quad) will play in Week 2 against the Browns. Peat was removed from New Orleans' injury report and will play Sunday. Michael Thomas, Ted Ginn Jr., and OT Terron Armstead were also full participants in practice Friday and expected to suit up against Cleveland. Peat's return pushes interim guard Josh LiRibeus back to the bench.

NFL Betting Trends

Cleveland

The Browns are 16-35-1 against the spread in their last 52 games overall and 5-15-1 against the number in their last 21 road games.

New Orleans

The Saints are 2-5 against the spread in their last seven games overall.

Prediction

I’m a little surprised to see 51% of the betting tickets on the Browns but apparently bettors are buying into Cleveland after tying Pittsburgh last week. Either that, or they’re fading the Saints following their brutal loss to the Bucs last week. Either way, I’m laying the points here. The Browns couldn’t move the ball offensively last week against a Steelers defense that hasn’t been the same since Ryan Shazier suffered his tragic injury last season. The only reason why they mounted a comeback is because turnovers. The Saints have to be ticked off and they won’t lose for a second straight week at home. With Sean Payton also facing old buddy Gregg Williams, I don’t anticipate the Saints letting up at any point today.

 

NFL Week 2 Prediction: New Orleans Saints -9.5