Last year the San Francisco 49ers were a trendy pro football betting futures bet. Based on a few meaningless wins at the end the 2017 season the Niners became the hot new thing. Furthermore, a new starting quarterback, Jimmy Garoppolo, was under center for that 2017 serge. A 4-12 season in 2018 proved the 49ers were fool’s gold. Which brings us to the 2019 Cleveland Browns. Following a 2-5-1 start Cleveland went 5-3 to end with momentum. Rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield became a sensation. All of which begs the question, “Is it déjà vu all over again?”
2019 Cleveland Browns Super Bowl Futures
| Date and Time: | Cleveland Browns season opens September 8, 2019 |
|---|---|
| NFL Futures odds at SBG: | Cleveland Browns +1300 to win Super Bowl LIV |
Enter Freddie Kitchens
During the Browns strong finish to the 2018 season Freddie Kitchens served as offensive coordinator. Certainly, his oversight of a vastly improved offense was a key factor in his promotion to head coach. Mayfield emerged as a bona fide football betting asset in Kitchens’ system. Rookie of the Year honors went to the 2017 Heisman Trophy winner. Cause by Mayfield’s QB rating of 93.7 with a 27/14 touchdown to interception ratio. Cleveland finished 7-8-1 straight up and 10-6 against the spread. Five payouts in their final seven games made gamblers like the Browns.
Offensive Arsenal
First, Baker Mayfield solves what has been a perpetual quarterback problem since 1999. Any doubts about Mayfield’s personality and brashness have been converted into belief in his ability. Most important of all is that Mayfield doesn’t have to shoulder the entire load. Running back Nick Chubb ran for 996 yards and 5.2 yards per carry as a fellow rookie last year. Jarvis Landry was a dynamic offshore betting factor in a trade from Miami. To illuminate Landry had 81 catches for 976 yards and four touchdowns. Tight end David Njoku added 56 catches for 639 yards and four TD’s.
Defensive Dilemma
Of great concern is a defense that ranked 30th in the NFL last year. Steve Wilks arrives to coordinate the unit after getting fired as head coach of Arizona. Wilks was defensive coordinator for Carolina in 2017. He inherits a unit that was labeled as an underachiever. More emphatically other NFL types and gamblers said it was overrated all along. Wilks will be charged with tightening things up. Just an average defense would take enough pressure off the productive offense.
Fighting History
At the onset of their 1999 return to the NFL, Cleveland has been a terrible franchise. Their lone playoff appearance was in 2002. Only twice have the Browns posted a winning season. In particular owner Jimmy Haslam has been at the helm for the worst of the losing era. Cleveland has a record of 21-75-1 with Haslam as owner. Correspondingly those marks are why not everyone is enamored with the Browns chances for 2019.
Matchup to Watch
In this situation Freddie Kitchens has won a lot of fans for his blue-collar basic ways. Increasingly he is being credited for the great 2018 finish and offense. But there are still too many football betting questions, especially on defense.
2019 Cleveland Browns Football Betting Picks
In sum the Browns have not shown the ability to sustain success.
2019 Cleveland Browns Football Betting Futures Prediction: Cleveland Browns
Catch comments from Browns head coach Freddie Kitchens!