Browns vs. Jaguars
Time : 1 PM ET
Spread: CLE -5
M/L: CLE -210; JAX +175
Total: 45
Betting odds courtesy of Bovada
There was a lot of talk about Johnny Manziel being more valuable than the highest QB pick of the draft, No. 3 overall pick Blake Bortles of UCF. Bortles has been solid for the Jacksonville Jaguars, while Manziel has rarely seen the field for the Cleveland Browns. NFL oddsmakers are going against Bortles and the Jags though, setting the NFL odds 5-points in favor of the visiting Browns.
Brian Hoyer has been the QB for the Browns and the team has won two straight. The Browns won 29-28 over the Tennessee Titans in Week 5, and the Jags won 31-10 over the Steelers last week. Hoyer threw for 217 yards and a TD i the win. Ben Tate and Isaiah Crowell were both solid in the backfield, combining for three TDs and 155 yards in the contest.
For all the excitement about Manziel, it’s hard to argue against Hoyer’s success. He’s 6-2 with the Browns. Hoyer missed most of last season after suffering an ACL injury and coach Mike Pettine said the only problem with Hoyer has been inconsistency, adding that “he’s not just wildly all over the place…at a position where you need somebody rock solid.”
Pro Bowl Browns center Alex Mack broke his fibula in the win over Pitts and he may be out the remainder of the season. Hoyer acknowledged the loss, saying “You don’t just replace that guy.”
Still, for the problems Cleveland is having, the Jags have yet to win a game this season. Jacksonville ranks near the bottom of all major offensive categories, 23rd in passing yardage, 32nd in rushing yardage. Meanwhile the defense hasn’t been good either, surrendering 294 yards in the air and 117.2 via the rush.
Last week, the Jags fell to the Titans 16-14 and the week prior the Steelers beat Cleveland. Bortles has thrown for over 1,000 yards on the season, but the 6’5” quarterback has just a 76.8 passer rating. His best performance came last week in the loss to the Titans. He threw 32-of-46, 69.6 percent, racking up 336 yards and a TD. He did throw an interception, and he has seven INTs on the season.
