Giants vs. Browns Point Spread: NFL Week 3 Odds, Prediction
After a terrible season-opening loss against Dallas, the Browns showed clear improvement in last week’s 18-13 road victory in Jacksonville. The Giants, meanwhile, are still looking for their first win of the season after dropping a 21-18 decision in Washington last week.
Cleveland opened as a heavy 6.5-point favourite to win on the NFL odds, with the total pegged at a relatively low 39.0.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
This line has remained steady at 6.5 as of Thursday afternoon, while the total has dipped a bit to 38.5. You can likely expect the total to rise as the majority of early betting action is taking the Over.
These teams haven’t met since Week 16 of the 2020 season, with the Browns winning 20-6 in New York. Cleveland covered as a six-point favourite, while the total went Under.
The Giants are off to a rough start to the season with two straight up losses. They’re also 0-2 against the spread and the total has gone Under in both games. Not only is New York a +2000 long shot to make the playoffs on the NFL futures board, they have the second-shortest odds to finish with the worst regular season record at +450.
The Browns, who were a three-point underdog against Jacksonville, were one of eight ‘dogs to win outright last week, moving them to 1-1 ATS for the season. Dating back to last season, they’ve hit the Over in eight of their last 10 games. If Cleveland continues to improve, they could be a great value pick at +170 to make the playoffs out of the AFC North.
New York Giants
With the immense amount of money at stake in the NFL, it was an absolutely mind-boggling decision by the Giants to stick with a 52-man roster despite kicker Graham Gano dealing with a groin injury all last week. You know how this goes, so I don’t need to tell you Gano pulled his hamstring on the opening kickoff. New York was forced to play the rest of the game without a kicker and go for it on several fourth-down situations. To add hilarious insult to injury, all 21 of Washington’s points were scored by their kicker, Austin Seibert.
It’s decision-making like last week that led the Giants to sign quarterback Daniel Jones to a massive contract extension before last season that already looks like a big mistake. Jones led New York to a 1-5 record before tearing his ACL last year and he hasn’t looked much better in 2024. Through two starts, Jones has a 54.4 completion percentage for 364 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. His QBR of 40.4 ranks 24th among starting QBs.
Cleveland Browns
It was a slight improvement for quarterback Deshaun Watson last week, but still nothing close to what the Browns expected when they signed him to the largest guaranteed contract in NFL history two years ago. After completing just 24 of 45 pass attempts for 169 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in Week 1, Watson went 22-of-34 for 186 yards with no TDs or picks in Week 2. He did add a rushing touchdown, but Watson’s numbers are still far below the standard of an elite starting QB.
After getting torched by the Cowboys for 33 points two weeks ago, Cleveland’s defence was much better against Jacksonville. The pass rush was particularly effective, racking up four sacks on the day. Myles Garrett has looked great with two sacks in two games and he’ll likely terrorize Daniel Jones all day.
NYG
CLE