Cleveland Browns vs Washington Football Team Point Spread Picks

Cleveland got a win over the Bengals 35-30 after being embarrassed by the Ravens in Week 1, but the Browns still haven't proven they can cover a decent number as a favorite. The Browns are 0-5 ATS their last five games overall dating to last season and Baker Mayfield hasn't shown that he can put two good performances together. Washington opened the season with a come-from-behind 27-17 victory over the Eagles before falling to Arizona 30-15 last week. However, quarterback Dwayne Haskins continued to show that he can make it in this league finishing 19 of 33 for 223 yards and a touchdown. Washington's defense leads the NFL with 11 sacks and a large part of that is the presence of rookie Chase Young, the No. 2 pick in the draft, who has 2.5 sacks this season. Mayfield infamously planted an Oklahoma flag at midfield at Ohio Stadium and caught the wrath of Nick Bosa last season and Young will have the same thing on his mind in this matchup. Cleveland is 12-25-1 ATS its last 38 home games and 24-50-2 ATS its last 76 games overall. The Browns are 2-6 ATS their last eight after scoring at least 30 points their previous game and they haven't yet earned the right to be laying this many points. Take Washington.

Washington head coach Jay Gruden is 12-8 straight-up in preseason, and is a good offensive coach. The Redskins were actually pretty good last year, starting 6–3 before losing two quarterbacks to injuries. The defense was in the middle of the pack in yards and points allowed. They are an underdog to a Cleveland Browns squad that has enormous hype, favored by Vegas to win the division. However, there are plenty of question marks, starting with a brand new coach in Freddie Kitchens. Last year the Browns had a losing record, were outscored by 33 points, and in preseason they split a pair of home games, winning by five and losing by two. For this game, don't expect too see much of QB Baker Mayfield and WR Odell Beckham Jr., with weak backup QBs David Blough, Drew Stanton and Garrett Gilbert. Cleveland's defense was supposed to be its strength last season but ranked #30 in yards allowed, and #21 in points surrendered. Back the visitors to win a high-scoring tilt. Play Washington on the moneyline and also OVER.

Cleveland is playing hard for new coach Hue Jackson, a good hire. Two weeks ago they gave the Ravens a game, losing 25-20, then last week gave an early Halloween scare to Miami, losing in overtime as a +10 dog. Rookie QB Cody Kessler impressed in his first start with 244 yards and no picks, completing 63.6% of his passes, while the Browns ground game has been outstanding in pounding out 144.7 yards per game (fourth in the NFL). Cleveland has covered six of the last eight against losing teams, plus the Browns are 18-7-1 ATS away against a team with a losing home record. They've gone two straight games OVER the total with a defense that is a weak spot at #25 in yards allowed, #24 against the pass. They are a dog again to a Washington squad that has a worse defense, #29 in yards allowed (424.7 yards per game), #26 against the pass, #29 in points allowed (30.7 pg). Washington allowed 38 points to Pittsburgh, then 27 in each of the last two weeks. That's 3-0 OVER the total, part of run going eight straight games OVER, as well as 13-3 OVER the total after a spread cover. Washington was fortunate to get its first win of the season last week, allowing 337 yards passing, 120 rushing (5.7 yards per carry) as the Giants gave them the game. The Redskins are 8-25-2 ATS at home against a team with a losing road record, plus 6-14 ATS following a straight-up win. They are also 6-17 ATS after a spread cover, so grab the dog in an offensive show. Take Cleveland and the OVER. 

A pair of first-year head coaches meet in this one, and new coaches want to look good in front of the home fans. That's what Washington did last week in blasting the Patriots, so there is less to show this week. They face a deep and talented Cleveland defense, and the Browns have a new head coach in Mike Pettine who also has plenty to prove. There is tremendous competition in the Browns camp regarding the starting QB job between Brian Hoyer and Johnny Manziel. Manziel tightened the race with his impressive showing in Detroit. The Cleveland start is crucial because it's presumably the last game before Pettine names his starter for the opener Sept. 7 in Pittsburgh. He said this week that he'd still like to name his man by the third preseason game on Aug. 23. Pettine indicated that a continuation of the Detroit game, where Manziel ran and threw well, barked out the plays, and got the right men in motion, will go a long way toward getting the nod on Aug. 18. The Browns defense was brilliant last week, holding the high-flying Lions to 219 passing yards and forcing two turnovers, so grab the dog and take Cleveland here. In addition, it will be a high scoring game. Washington Redskins coach Jay Gruden had the offense in gear last week, putting up 23 points and 387 yards on the Patriots. The team was 6-12 on third down and has an experienced QB rotation for preseason with Robert Griffin, Kirk Cousins, and Colt McCoy. The Redskins have plenty to prove to show that they can become as good a team passing the football as running it. WR DeSean Jackson will debut with his new team, too. But they will give up points as the Redskins defensive backs will have their hands full with Cleveland receiver Josh Gordon and tight end Jordan Cameron. And speaking of something to prove, the Browns have a terrific QB competition going on between Brian Hoyer and Johnny Manziel, and even Tyler Thigpen is experienced in August. Mike Pettine said Manziel will still get quality playing time with the first team. There have been more OVERs in Week 2 of preseason, the opposite of Week 1, and this shapes up as an offensive show. Take the Browns and OVER the total in this one.