The Cleveland Browns and the New York Giants open up their preseason schedules with a matchup at MetLife Stadium on Thursday, Aug. 9 at 7 p.m. ET. NFL Network will broadcast the game live.
Odds (According to BetDSI.com)
Cleveland Browns +2.5, 34.5
New York Giants -2.5, 34.5
Preview
Despite an 0-16 regular season in 2017, the Browns were actually 4-0 in the preseason last year. One of those victories included a 10-6 victory over the Giants in Week 2. However, the Giants defeated the Browns 27-13 in Week 13 of the regular season.
New York was 2-2 in the preseason in 2017 before a difficult 3-13 regular season campaign and is looking to rebound this fall and contend for a playoff spot with new coach Pat Shurmur.
The No. 1 and No. 2 picks from the 2018 NFL Draft could be on the field Thursday night. Cleveland quarterback and No. 1 overall pick Baker Mayfield is in a position battle with Tyrod Taylor. While Taylor has the advantage, Mayfield has the opportunity to gain ground during the preseason.
Saquon Barkley, who was selected No. 2 overall by the Giants, is expected to have an immediate impact for the franchise, but Barkley will likely have a heavy workload during the regular season, so he probably won’t play much — if at all — against the Browns in Week 1 of the preseason.
No. 4 overall pick Denzel Ward will more than likely get some reps for the Browns at cornerback. So, three of the top four players from the NFL Draft could see playing time in the first preseason game of the year.
Starters typically don’t see much playing time in Week 1 of the preseason, so don’t expect to see Eli Manning or Odell Beckham Jr. The first week is more of a showcase for younger, more inexperienced players so they can get their first taste of NFL action.
There is a chance both Tyrod Taylor and Baker Mayfield see the field, though it’s far more likely Mayfield plays than Taylor. Last year in Week 1 of the preseason, DeShone Kizer threw 18 passes, while Cody Kessler threw 10 and Brock Osweiler threw 14.
However, for the Giants, Eli Manning didn’t play at all. Instead, Geno Smith and Davis Webb took the majority of the snaps at quarterback.
A young team like Cleveland needs more game experience than a mostly veteran team like the Giants. The Browns have more to prove in the preseason, though the Giants are coming off of one the worst seasons in franchise history.
Browns coach Hue Jackson is 4-8 against the spread in the preseason. The over for Jackson’s teams in the preseason is 2-9-1. Shurmur is 3-5 ATS in the preseason, while the over is 5-2-1.
Pick
Preseason games are usually pretty sloppy since so many young, inexperienced players are on the field. In 2017, all four Cleveland preseason games went under the total of 34.5. New York’s first two preseason games went under 34.5 as well, though both of the Giants’ final two games of the preseason were high scoring.
New York is 1-4 straight up and 0-5 against the spread in its last five preseason games as a favorite. Additionally, the under has hit in five of its last seven preseason games.
In Cleveland’s last 12 preseason games, the under has hit 11 times. The total has also gone under in Cleveland’s last three preseason games that it has been an underdog.
Straight up pick: Browns 17, Giants 16
ATS Pick: Browns +2.5
Total: Under 34.5
