Carolina Panthers at Cleveland Browns, Cleveland Browns Stadium, Cleveland, OH
Sunday, November 28, 2010, 1:00 pm EST, TV: FOX
Opening Line: Browns -9
Current Line: Browns -10
Opening Total: 37.5
Current Total: 38
Money Line: Browns -500 / Panthers +400
Quarterback Jake Delhomme surely envisioned leading the Cleveland Browns (3-7) against his former team this season, but he probably did not think it would be under these circumstances. Delhomme will be making his first start since Week 1, replacing injured rookie Colt McCoy on Sunday when the Browns host the Carolina Panthers (1-9).
McCoy suffered a high ankle sprain last week in a 24-20 loss at Jacksonville after taking over for both Delhomme and Seneca Wallace in Week 6. The first-year quarterback from Texas led Cleveland to a 2-3 mark in his first five starts, including consecutive wins over New Orleans and New England. Delhomme suffered an ankle injury himself in a 17-14 loss at Tampa Bay in the season opener and has only played since then in relief of Wallace in Week 5 after he got hurt.
The Browns are 1-5 in games decided by seven points or less this season, going 2-4 against the spread. The lone win came in Week 4 against Cincinnati (a 23-20 victory). The OVER has cashed in their last five games and is 7-1 in their last eight following two straight UNDERs to open the season. Another potential UNDER could be on tap if the offense stays conservative and simply feeds running back Peyton Hillis the ball. Hillis has scored a touchdown in each of the last four games but has not rushed for more than 41 yards in the past two.
The Panthers are riding a four-game losing streak and have failed to cover the spread in all of those games, with the average margin of victory of 20 points for their opponents. Carolina is the worst offensive team in the NFL this year, averaging only 11.7 points per game. The team had been down to practice squad quarterback Brian St. Pierre and fourth-string running back Mike Goodson, who has put together back-to-back 100-yard games despite the losses.
St. Pierre completed 13 of 28 passes for 173 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions in a 37-13 home loss to Baltimore last week. Both of his interceptions were returned for touchdowns by the Ravens in the last five minutes of the fourth quarter to blow up a 10-point game. Rookie Jimmy Clausen has been cleared to play following a concussion and should be back under center for the Panthers on Sunday.
Carolina and Cleveland have only met three times previously, with the Panthers winning all three games both straight-up and against the spread. Two of the three wins for the Browns this season have come at home, with the OVER going 3-1 in their last four games there overall.
If you are betting this NFL football game between the Browns & Panthers, don’t miss the winning NFL picks packages we offer. You can also get free winners on our free NFL picks page.
