The Browns (+1.5) are ready to greet the Los Angeles Chargers (-1.5) at FirstEnergy Stadium. This key early afternoon game starts at 1:00 p.m. ET and CBS is scheduled to broadcast the action. These squads faced off a year ago with the final result being a 19-10 win for Los Angeles.
Betting Preview: Cleveland Browns vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Cleveland is the underdog in this AFC game and is currently getting 1.5 points. The Chargers are also receiving -125 moneyline odds while the Browns are +105. If one team can find paydirt early it will generate a reasonable live betting opportunity. Vegas has determined the over/under (O/U) to be 44 points.
The under has received most of the early sharp action, as this game’s total was originally set at 46.5.
The Chargers have gained 0.4 units so far in 2018 and are 2-3 against the spread (ATS). The team has posted an Over-Under record of 4-1.
The Browns have gained 0.4 units for moneyline bettors this season. They’re 4-1 ATS and own an O/U record of 2-3.
The Chargers are 3-2 straight up (SU) in 2018 while the Browns are 2-2-1 SU.
The Chargers are coming off a resounding 26-10 win over Oakland last week. The passing attack was on point as Philip Rivers completed 22-of-27 passes for 339 yards and two touchdowns. Melvin Gordon III (just 58 yards on 19 rushes, one TD) led the ground attack while Keenan Allen (eight receptions, 90 yards) and Gordon III (four catches, 62 yards) handled the receiving duties in the win.
Cleveland just picked up a 12-9 win over Baltimore in Week 5. The defense let the Ravens rush for 116 yards on 25 attempts. Javorius Allen was a bright spot in the loss, posting 44 yards on six catches for Baltimore. For Cleveland, Baker Mayfield completed 25-of-43 passes for 342 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Carlos Hyde (63 yards on 17 rush attempts) spearheaded the running game while David Njoku (six receptions, 69 yards) and Jarvis Landry (five catches, 69 yards) led the pass-catching corps in the win.
Los Angeles has run the ball on 42.0 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Cleveland has a rush percentage of 45.1 percent. The Chargers have produced 115.6 rush yards/game and have three touchdowns on the ground this year. The Browns are logging 144.6 rushing yards per game and have eight total rush TDs.
It seems like the Chargers could hold an edge when it comes to quarterback protection, as their offensive line has yielded just 18 sacks while their D-line registered 43 sacks. The Browns, on the other hand, have given up 50 sacks and their defense has sacked opposing QBs on just 34 occasions.
The Bolts offensive scheme has averaged 299.0 yards in the air overall and has 13 passing TDs so far. The Browns have produced 260.0 pass yards per contest and have five total pass scores.
Defensively, Los Angeles has let opponents rush for an average of 95.6 yards and throw for 284.2 yards per game. The Cleveland D has allowed 296.4 yards per game to opposing passers and 116.6 yards per game to opposing runners. The Browns are giving up an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 5.03 to opponents, while the Chargers have allowed a 7.35 ANY/A.
Rivers has been more effective than Mayfield recently, as his adjusted net yards per pass attempt sits at 9.77for the year (and 9.26 over the past two outings). Mayfield’s ANY/A is 6.56 for the season and 5.58 over his past two outings.
Los Angeles Chargers vs. Cleveland Browns Free NFL Pick
SU Winner: Chargers, ATS Winner: Browns, O/U: Under
Betting Trends
- Los Angeles was favored by 6 points in its last game and the Over/Under was set at 51.5. The under cashed and Los Angeles covered in the 26-10 victory over Oakland.
- Los Angeles, as a team, has produced 4.43589743589744 yards per carry across its past three games and 3.5 over its last two.
- Cleveland has averaged 4.9 yards per carry over its last three contests and 5.4 over its past two.
- The Cleveland offense has lost two fumbles this season while Los Angeles has lost three.
- In its last three games, Los Angeles is 1-2 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
- Cleveland was getting 4 points in its last matchup and the Over/Under was set at 44.5. The under cashed and Cleveland covered in that 12-9 win over Baltimore.
- Over its last three matchups, Cleveland is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
- The Chargers have made four pass plays of 30+ yards while the Browns have produced seven such plays.
- The Los Angeles defense has allowed five pass plays of 40 or more yards, while Cleveland has given up two such plays.
- Both teams have produced six rushing plays of 20 yards or more. The Los Angeles offense has recorded 22 running plays of 10+ yards while Cleveland has accounted for 23 such plays.
- The Chargers defense has allowed two rushing plays of 20+ yards, while the Browns have given up three such runs.
- The Cleveland defense has created 14 sacks on the year while Los Angeles has 11.
