NFL odds on the Cleveland Browns are definitely not going to be what they were a year ago. In 2008 the Browns were the hot team, expected to do great things. In 2009 they are a team coming off a 4-12 season with a new head coach and a very weak offense.
NFL odds had the Browns going 6-9-1 against the online sports betting number a year ago. They may not do much better than that in 2009 although they did make a lot of off-season moves. Eric Mangini takes over as head coach at Cleveland and he has a lot of new players to look at. The Browns added linebacker Eric Barton, tight end Robert Royal, defensive end Kenyon Coleman, safety Abram Elam, offensive lineman John St. Clair, linebacker David Bowens, cornerbacks Rod Hood, Hank Poteat and Corey Ivy and wide receiver David Patten. Online sports betting information shows that the Browns lost tight end Kellen Winslow, wide receiver Joe Jurevicius, offensive linemen Kevin Shaffer and Seth McKinney and corner back Terry Cousin. The team drafted center Alex Mack in the first round and wide receiver Brian Robiskie in the second round.
The Browns have a number of issues heading into 2009 beginning with their starting quarterback. Neither Derek Anderson nor Brady Quinn looked that good in 2008. Losing Winslow and suspended wide receiver Donté Stallworth is not going to help the offense in NFL odds, especially if wide receiver Braylon Edwards continues to play poorly. Cleveland was 30th in points scored last season as NFL odds statistics show.
Mangini is a good coach so the Browns should be improved in NFL odds at the online sportsbook in 2009. Defensively they will definitely be improved but it is the offense that will decide how far the Browns go in 2009 versus the NFL odds. On paper it is not promising, as neither Anderson nor Quinn look to be starting NFL quarterback material while the running game is weak with an aging Jamal Lewis and the receiving corps has Edwards and not much else.
The defense for Cleveland should be improved with Mangini as head coach but with no offense it is going to be tough for the Browns to win consistently versus the NFL odds in 2009. Cleveland definitely won’t be getting as much respect from online sports betting gamblers as they did a year ago.