The Cleveland Browns are five-for-five. Five QBs in five weeks, that is. Record-wise, they are 0-5, which should be enough to make them NFL betting online underdogs versus the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, October 16th at Nissan Stadium. Here are the odds for fans who bet on NFL:
Browns +7½ (-115) 44½ (-105)
Titans -7½ (-105) 44½ (-115)
The Browns were the sacrificial lamb that was slaughtered to celebrate the return of Tom Brady. Cleveland wide receiver Terrelle Pryor took two snaps under center because why not? Actually, it was because rookie Cody Kessler got the wind knocked out of him in the first half and left with rib and chest injuries. And to be fair, Pryor played quarterback with the Ohio State Buckeyes as well as the Oakland Raiders.
Then it was veteran Charlie Whitehurst’s turn in the position that has become the equivalent of saying “Macbeth” aloud in a theater. Whitehurst finished 14 of 24 for 182 yards with one TD and one interception and limped off the field with 3:57 remaining, while Kessler went 5 of 8 for 62 yards with one score. The Browns lost 13-33 and have dropped seven straight and 14 of 15.
Titans QB Marcus Mariota gained some much needed momentum in a 30-17 over the Miami Dolphins, after throwing two interceptions and no scores in two straight losses. Mariota threw 20 of 29 for 163 yards and 3 TD passes (to wide receivers Andre Johnson and Rishard Matthews, and tight end Delanie Walker), ran for 60 yards on 7 carries, and was neither sacked nor intercepted. The second-year signal-caller also directed touchdown drives of 61, 76, 75 yards and 66 yards, and scored his first rushing touchdown of the year on a 5-yard run. Running back DeMarco Murray rushed for 121 yards as Tennessee had its most ground yards since 2009 with 235.
The Browns are the most unpredictable team when it comes to the QB position – guessing who is going to start under center should be an NFL betting online proposition in and of itself –, though that is not necessarily a good thing. Nonetheless, Kessler is expected to start against the Titans, according to sports writer, pundit, and television analyst Ian Rapoport. What with Cleveland’s QB-revolving door and their winless record, the planets seem to be aligning for the Titans to finally win two games in a row under head coach Bill Mularkey.
“It’s been awhile since we won two games in a row,” cornerback Jason McCourty said. In fact, Tennessee has not won two straight since September, 2013, but nobody’s keeping track here. On the other hand, winless teams are like kryptonite to the Titans. They lost to the 0-8 Jaguars in 2013, and to the 0-13 Colts in 2011. Furthermore, the Titans have lost their two last games with the Browns, and Tennessee has not defeated Cleveland since 2011. Interestingly, the Titans play the Colts and the Jags right after the Browns. Coincidence or a sign from the Odds to NFL betting online fans? Probably coincidence.