Browns vs. Patriots Week 8 Prediction
The Patriots opened as a 10.5-point favorite, the number jumped to nearly 14 points but now is back down to 10.5 for their matchup with the Browns on Sunday. Despite struggling over the first two months of the season, is there value in the underdog Browns?
Game Snapshot
273 Cleveland Browns (+11) at 274 New England Patriots (-11); O/U 43.5
4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, October 27, 2019
Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA
Public Betting Trends
According to our NFL Football Public Betting Chart page, the Patriots are receiving 63% of the betting tickets from online sportsbooks.
Cleveland Browns Fantasy Spin
Browns coach Freddie Kitchens said Baker Mayfield (hip) is “good to go” after resting over the bye week. “I thought he looked good today,” Kitchens added. Mayfield returned to practice following the team’s bye week and should be fully cleared for Sunday. Unfortunately, that’s when the Browns are slated to face the Patriots. He’ll be a middling QB2 even at full strength in that one.
New England Patriots Fantasy Spin
Julian Edelman (chest) is questionable for the Patriots’ Week 8 matchup against the Browns. Edelman is fully expected to suit up. He’s been listed as questionable for most of the season before inevitably suiting up come game time. Tom Brady’s long-time WR1 has just barely spent more time in the slot (230 snaps) as opposed to out wide (213) this season, but he’s proven to actually be more effective from the outside. Overall, Edelman has averaged 2.2 yards per route run (No. 19 among 91 qualified WRs) from the outside compared to 1.66 from the slot (No. 24 among 61 qualified WRs). Fire up Edelman as a high-end WR2.
NFL Betting Trends
Cleveland
The Browns are 5-20-1 against the spread in their last 26 games when facing an opponent with a winning record and are just 1-4-1 ATS in their last six games coming off a bye.
New England
The Patriots are 21-6 against the spread in their last 27 games when facing an opponent with a losing record.
Prediction
The Browns are just 2-5 against the spread in their last seven games versus the Patriots and are 1-3-1 ATS in their last five trips to Foxborough. Everyone is crushing the Pats’ strength of schedule, and rightfully so. They haven’t played anyone but the Bills, who nearly beat them a few weeks ago in Buffalo. That said, the bottom line is that no team has figured out how to move the ball on this New England defense. The Browns have a horrendous offensive line, which is killing the talented skill position players that they do have at their disposal. I like the Pats by two touchdowns today as they improve to 8-0.
NFL Week 8 Prediction: New England Patriots -11