NFL Week 1 Betting Odds: Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns
Sunday, September 11, 2011
by Aengus Moorehead
Time & Venue: 1:00 PM ET, Sunday, September 11, 2011. Cleveland Browns Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio.
Last Year’s result: Cincinnati Bengals 4-12 - Cleveland Browns 5-11
Prediction 2011-12: Cincinnati 1-15 - Cleveland 6-10
NFL Football Odds: Cleveland -6.5
Analysis:
Two teams built for the future will get a reality check in the present when the Cleveland Browns host the state and division rival Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. The Browns, who have won only 14 games in the past three seasons, swept out the old regime and brought in Pat Shurmur, who will be making his NFL head coaching debut. Bengals coach Marvin Lewis enters his ninth season on shaky ground and facing a sea of uncertainty after the team traded star receiver Chad Ochocinco and let quarterback Carson Palmer retire rather than bow to his wishes to be traded. Let the battle for the AFC North cellar begin.
Colt McCoy started eight games as a rookie and acquitted himself fairly well despite a serious dearth of playmakers surrounding him. The new NFL kickoff rules will diminish one of the team's beat weapons in WR/KR Josh Cribbs. RB Peyton Hillis surprised everyone by rushing for 1,177 yards and 11 TDs and catching 61 passes. TE Ben Watson (68 catches, 3 TDs), led a nondescript receiving corps, so the team is hoping on rookie Greg Little to make an impact.
Cincinnati opted to replace Palmer and Ochocinco with a pair of rookies in QB Andy Dalton and WR A.J. Green, the No. 4 overall pick. As expected, Dalton struggled in the preseason and will look to lean on RB Cedric Benson, who is coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons and a five-day stint in jail last week for misdemeanor assault. The Bengals swept their division rivals in winning the AFC North in 2009, but their defense allowed 104 more points last se
Neither of these teams inspires much confidence, and that is why the points are so hard to overlook heading into this matchup. The Cleveland Browns could win but a touchdown differential may be asking too much against a divisional rival that isn't that far apart in terms of overall talent.
Bet on NFL Football games with Bodog Sportsbook, click here!
The Pick: Take points and Bengals.
Related Articles
- NFL Football Pick: Division Foe Cleveland Browns Take On Cincinnati
- Make Your NFL Draft Prop Bets Prior to Thursday’s Action
- NFL Prediction: Cincinnati Bengals Face Faltering Houston Texans
- Free NFL Pick: Baltimore Ravens Visit Optimistic Cincinnati Bengals
- NFL Prediction: Pittsburgh Steelers visit Hobbled Cleveland Browns
Category
Tags
a.j. green - andy dalton - ben watson - carson palmer - cedric benson - chad ochocinco - cincinnati bengals - cleveland browns - cleveland browns stadium - colt mccoy
Proud member of the