Browns-Rams
Time: NOON CT
Spread: STL -6.5
Total: 42
Betting odds c/o Bovada
Todd Gurley, No. 10 overall pick in the 2015 draft, is quickly making his case for being worth the selection that made him the first RB taken in the first round in three years. He had 305 yards on 49 carries in his past two games, though he has yet to get in the end zone. Gurley and the Saint Louis Rams are 6.5 point favorites as they host the 2-4 Cleveland Browns at Noon CST on CBS.
Gurley is hoping to become the third Rams running back to top 140 yards in three straight contests. It has not been done since Marshall Faulk did in 2002, and Gurley is high on his prospects: “It’s definitely coming along pretty well; like I said, just the repetition, getting the reps, getting used to it…seeing how other teams are going to play the outside zone.”
Gurley realizes that the experiences he is gaining is valuable and the 2-3 Rams hope that it matters this season. The team hopes to pull to .500 before the team takes on San Francisco and Minnesota the next two weeks.
The Browns have not been good with the rush though. Cleveland has allowed 149.8 yards on the ground and it gave up 152 yards to the Denver Broncos in a 26-23 OT loss last week. HC Mike Pettine said “You have to want to stop the run.”
But that does not solve the problem, and it is a huge part of the reason the Browns are ranked no. 30 in total defense, allowing 417.8 yards per game. The Rams need to get more offense outside of what Gurley has done, and Saint Louis averages a league-worst 309 yards of offense per game. Its pass attack is No. 31 in the NFL at 183.2 yards per game and Nick Foles is No. 29 in passer rating at 77.6
Kenny Britt has been a nice pick up with 183 receiving yards, but he has not caught a TD in the last three games. Tavon Austin has 16 catches but had two for six yards in the 24-10 loss to the Packers the week before the bye.
The teams have not met in four seasons, and the last saw the Rams win 13-12. This is the third straight year that Browns QB Josh McCown will face St. Louis. In 2013, he threw 352 yards and two TDs in a 42-21 loss with the Chicago Bears. Last year, McCown threw for 179 yards in a 19-17 loss playing for Tampa Bay. He threw 76.6 percent for completion in both games.
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RECENT TRENDS
Cleveland
Over is 4-0 in Browns last 4 games following a S.U. loss.
Browns are 4-0 ATS vs. a team with a losing record.
Browns are 0-3-1 ATS in their last 4 games in Week 7.
St. Louis
Under is 5-1 in Rams last 6 games after accumulating less than 150 yards passing in their previous game.
Over is 5-1 in Rams last 6 games following a bye week.
Over is 8-2 in Rams last 10 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
