Bills vs Browns Best Bets, Splits & Who’s Playing?
By Eric Rosales in NFL News
Published:
- The Buffalo Bills are 2.5-point road underdogs in Week 2 preseason play vs the Cleveland Browns
- Bills QB Josh Allen is unlikely to play, while Shedeur Sanders will get the start for Cleveland
- See below for the Bills vs Browns best bets, odds, betting splits and who should be playing
Barring catastrophic injuries or suspensions, perhaps the only time you’ll ever see the Cleveland Browns favored over the Buffalo Bills is in Week 2 preseason play.
While Buffalo is tied for the second-highest line in NFL win totals this season at 10.5, while the Browns are tied for the second lowest at 5.5.
But with Josh Allen sitting, amidst much of the rest of the Bills starters, the Browns find themselves as 2.5-point home favorites in the NFL odds.
This one goes this afternoon at 1pm ET from Huntington Bank Field Cleveland, with NFL Network providing the broadcast coverage.
Bills vs Browns Best Bets
- Browns -2.5 (-115 at bet365)
When the favorite in the NFL MVP odds sits it out, the playing field levels significantly. After getting reps in Week 1 and putting together a solid week of practice Josh Allen will give way to the backup duo of Kyle Allen and Shane Buechele taking snaps.
Allen did look sharp in Buffalo’s 29-14 win in Week 1 over Carolina, completing 14 of 16 passes for 108 yards, while Buechle went 6-for-9 for 50 yards. Neither threw a TD pass.
No matter what you think of the QB situation in Cleveland, against that duo, it’s advantage Browns, as all three pivots are competing for the QB1 job.
Shedeur Sanders threw a brutal pick last week in his game against the Bears, part of a 6-for-11 day, for 70 yards. Now he gets the start, in what might be his best and most meaningful opportunity to take the starting gig.
His main combatant, Deshaun Watson, will play the third quarter. He actually looked good in Week 1, an efficient 11-for-15 for 126 yards, and led the Browns to their only points thgat afternoon. Second-year pro Dillon Gabriel will play in the fourth. He also threw an interception in Week 1.
Each of those pivots should be highly motivated Saturday, and Cleveland should be able to muster more than the 10 points they stacked in the 34-10 Week 1 loss to Chicago.
Bills vs Browns Odds and Betting Splits
Odds as of August 22 from bet365. Click here for a bet365 Sportsbook promo code to bet on for NFL this season.
The Browns find themselves as -150 favorites on the moneyline, but they get better payout juice on the spread, at -115, if they can win by at least a field goal.
Buffalo is set as a +125 underdog to win outright, and a decent -105 on the spread, even though they’re getting 2.5 points.
The total is set at 37.5 points, with both ends of the wager offering -110 odds.
Looking at the NFL public betting trends, and the public is hammering the vistors, with a whopping 84% of the bets and 88% of the money taking the Bills to cover with those extra points. It’s a little less aggressive on the moneyline, but still all Buffalo. The public is putting 63% of its tickets on the win, wagering 78% of the money.
The public sees this one as a high-enough affair, with a 69% of the money on the Over on 56% of all bets.
BUF Bills vs CLE Browns Who’s Playing
With Buffalo resting its main guys and the Browns likely not giving many other starters reps besides the QBs, we still have significant notables suiting up Saturday.
Buffalo Bills
- Alec Anderson (OL): He’s trying to lock down the left guard spot, so the fourth-year pro needs to show both athleticism and consistency to start in Week 1
- Jordan Hancock (CB): The second-year pro shined in Week 1 out of the slot, and he might get to slide to safety if the Bills are dinged up there. Versatility could be his ticket to a roster spot
- Keleki Latu (TE): The TE room is stacked, with Dawson Knox and Dalton Kincaid getting the reps, but Latu was the team’s leading receiver in Week 1. He could make the decision tough for the Bills, who might opt to keep him and lose a sixth WR on the roster
- Tyler Bass (K): He missed all last year with a sports hernia, and this year started off shaky with a missed FG in Week 1 and two other kicks in Thursday’s practice. A good showing Saturday would settle down the coaches and fans alike
HOU Texans
- Shedeur Sanders (QB): Shedeur hasn’t yet shown his play enough for the Browns to reconsider this a gap year at QB. Time is running out to lock down the job
- Michael Coats Jr. (CB): Denzel Ward and Tyson Campbell are the incumbents, but Coats Hr has been nice for the Browns, picking up an INT in Week 1 against the Bears, and potentially a regular contributor if he keeps it up
- Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (S): He’s a Round 2 pick that’s yet to have a major impact, but he should get plenty of run in this one, which will help Cleveland decide how they want to deploy McNeil-Warren
- Raheim Sanders (RB): The no. 3 back is still up for grabs, and the second-year pro will have his chance Saturday to be that guy
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Sports Writer & Editor
Having worked in and around sports since 1997, Eric is truly a knowledgeable expert. The two-time journalism grad specializes in all things NBA and NFL. From TSN.ca to CTV's Olympic Broadcast Consortium, Eric's work has appeared in local and national publications alike.
