Cleveland Browns vs. Denver Broncos Odds
Cleveland Browns vs. Denver Broncos odds had Denver as the firm -3 home favorite at betED.com.
Denver comes into this game 1-0 and perhaps having more confidence than any other team in the league. It wasn't supposed to be this way. The Broncos season looked as if it were going to be very long just seconds before last week's game in Cincinnati concluded.
Brandon Stokley's 87-yard touchdown with 11 seconds left on Sunday provided a 12-7 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.
"I've never seen anything like that," Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer said. "I've played football since I was 7 or 8, and I've not seen that."
No one had. It was the longest game-winning play from scrimmage in the final minute of the fourth quarter in NFL history, according to the league.
Brandon Marshall was the most targeted receiver last season, and that was no different in Sunday's game where he was targeted seven times -- most of any Bronco. However, he caught the ball just four times for 27 yards. Ironically, the winning TD came on a pass originally targeted for Marshall.
The Cleveland Browns, meanwhile, fell victim to Brett Favre and the Vikings during Week 1.
In his fourth start, Brady Quinn completed 21-of-35 passes for 205 yards with a touchdown, an interception and was sacked five times.
"I didn't take care of the ball like I needed to," Quinn said. "It's going to hurt you in the end. The one ball that slipped out, I was trying to make a play. That sort of thing can really help you and maybe get you back in the game, but a lot of the time they end up hurting you if that ends up being the result."
Now Cleveland heads up to the hostile territory of Denver, once among the toughest places in which to win games.
The Broncos defense was supposed to have been the weakest link on the team and perhaps one of the worst in the league.
Brian Howell of the Longmont Times Call of Northern Colorado points out that the Broncos gave up at least 30 points nine times a year ago, including 112 points in the final three games. After shutting out Arizona in the preseason finale, the Broncos gave up just a last-minute touchdown against the Bengals last Sunday.
"To hold anybody in the league to seven points is definitely a good deal in the NFL," Broncos linebacker Mario Haggan said.
The Broncos face a new set of weapons this week with Quinn, receiver Braylon Edwards, tight end Robert Royal and running back Jamal Lewis.
"Very explosive offense," Broncos linebacker Darrell Reid said. "We have our hands full this week."
The Broncos beat Cleveland on the road last year by 4 points and a score of 34-30. Three years ago, they did the same, beating the Browns by 10 points. They are 4-0 against Cleveland.
It should be noted that the Browns are 10-2 ATS in their last 12 games after allowing more than 30 points in their previous game.
They are 0-8-1 ATS in their last 9 games on grass.
The Broncos are 4-10-1 ATS in their last 15 games following a ATS win.
The Broncos are 5-16-1 ATS vs. a team with a losing record.
Denver is 5-21-1 ATS in their last 27 games as a favorite.
Betting action on this late afternoon game was relatively even with Denver getting around 60 percent of the spread action. Cleveland, however, was getting heavy action on the +160 money line to win outright for a payout potential of $160 on every $100 bet. This was not among the more heavily bet on games early but it's scheduling during the late afternoon will help to boost numbers.
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Christopher Costigan, Gambling911.com Publisher
