Browns, Niners & Dolphins Receiving a Lot of Sharp Money in Week 8
- Oddsmakers report that they’ve taken more sharp money this week on the Cleveland Browns (10.1%) than any other NFL team
- The 2-4 Browns are 12-point road underdogs to the 7-0 New England Patriots on Sunday
- Books have also handled significant sharp money this week on the 6-0 San Francisco 49ers (9.9%) and the 0-6 Miami Dolphins (8.6%)
What can the Cleveland Browns do for you? Well, the sharp money thinks that the Browns can do a number on the unbeaten New England Patriots.
For Week 8 of the NFL season, books report that it has handled more sharp money – 10.1% of all sharp money wagered – on the Browns.
Cleveland (2-4) head to New England for a showdown with the 7-0 defending Super Bowl champion Patriots. The Browns are 12-point underdogs.
NFL Week 8 Smart Money Bets
| Matchup | Spread | Percentage of Smart Money |
|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Browns-New England Patriots | Browns +12 | 10.1 |
| San Francisco 49ers-Carolina Panthers | 49ers -5.5 | 9.9 |
| Miami Dolphins-Pittsburgh Steelers | Dolphins +14 | 8.6 |
| Los Angeles Chargers-Chicago Bears | Chargers +4 | 7.6 |
| Kansas City Chiefs-Green Bay Packers | Chiefs +4 | 7.2 |
Odds taken on Oct. 26, 2019.
There’s also significant sharp money wagered this week on the 6-0 San Francisco 49ers (9.9%), the 0-6 Miami Dolphins (8.6%), as well as the 2-5 Los Angeles Chargers (7.6%) and the 5-2 Kansas City Chiefs (7.2%) in the NFL Week 8 odds.
Can Browns take Pats Down?
On the surface, wagering on Cleveland to gain a positive outcome at Foxboro against the Patriots seems like so much misplaced optimism. Then again, the Browns are 12-point underdogs.
That’s a lot of points to give at the NFL level.
Last time the Browns beat the Patriots:
Peyton Hillis ran for 184 yards & two rushing TD’s along with 36 receiving yards & a receiving TD. pic.twitter.com/4zKVlhS2K6
— Everything Cleveland (@everythingcle_) October 25, 2019
New England will be seeking its 20th consecutive home victory, and let’s be realistic. It’s probably going to happen. But what’s even more worrisome for the Browns from a wagering standpoint is that those 12 points might not mean a whole hill of beans.
The Patriots have won their last eight home games by double-digit margins. They’ve taken those victories by an average margin of 19.4 points per game.
Just a reminder of how much better the Browns are than the Patriots. pic.twitter.com/fc5KQ8BJJE
— Cleveland Sports Talk (@CLEsportsTalk) October 25, 2019
Cleveland is 2-4 against the spread this season. The Browns are 1-6 straight up and 2-5 ATS in their last seven facing New England. Cleveland is 2-27 SU and 10-18-1 ATS in its last 29 games as a road underdog.
Pick: New England Patriots -12 (-105).
None Finer than Niners
San Francisco is the NFL’s other remaining unbeaten team. They’ll put that streak on the line against a surprising Panthers team that’s won four in a row behind backup quarterback Kyle Allen.
Rivera on preparing for the 49ers: “It’s all going to start up front. It’s going to be a physical, point of attack game.”
— Max Henson (@maxhenson) October 24, 2019
The Niners are just 2-14 ATS in their last 16 victories. Carolina is 7-1 ATS in its last eight against San Francisco. The 49ers haven’t beaten the Panthers since 2001.
This is a different Niners team, however. The smart money know what it’s doing.
Pick: San Francisco 49ers -5.5 (-105).
Sink or Swim For Dolphins?
Imagine being so bad that you’re a 14-point underdog against a 2-4 team? Yes, the Dolphins are dreadful.
"We're not going to take them lightly at all." — James Conner and the #Steelers are preaching discipline and urgency for the winless Dolphins pic.twitter.com/5Nz7GPzkV0
— Chase Williams (@chasepwilliams) October 23, 2019
This might be the worst Pittsburgh Steelers team since the 1960s, though. Coming off their bye week and with QB Mason Rudolph and running back James Conner both expected back from injuries, Pittsburgh will beat Miami.
Then again, the Dolphins just lost by 10 at 5-1 Buffalo. Giving them 14 points at the 2-4 Steelers is too much.
Pick: Miami Dolphins +14 (-110).
Moore or Less For Chiefs?
This is the one game where you have to ponder whether maybe the smart money isn’t so smart after all.
The Chiefs are facing the 6-1 Packers and Aaron Rodgers without QB Patrick Mahomes (dislocated patella). Backup Matt Moore will make his first start since Nov. 26, 2017.
In addition to QB Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs also will be without DT Chris Jones, DE Frank Clark, CB Kendall Fuller, LT Eric Fisher and OG Andrew Wylie against the Packers on Sunday night.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 25, 2019
Moore’s last win as an NFL starter? That was Dec. 24, 2016, a 34-31 verdict over the Bills.
On the other hand, in 2011, the Chiefs handed the 15-1 Packers their only loss of the NFL regular season. It was a 19-14 KC verdict at Arrowhead Stadium with Kyle Orton under center for the Chiefs.
Pick: Green Bay Packers -4 (-110).
Charging Through the Windy City
Sunday, the Chicago Bears will try to avoid doing something that hasn’t happened to them since 1970 – lose to the Chargers at home.
The Chicago Bears got to play a New Orleans Saints team without two of their top players last Sunday, but still lost.
If the Bears cannot beat the Chargers without these two, it's over… if it wasn't already. #Bears https://t.co/7WKkWd5Iq9
— Dan DeYoung (@CoachDanDeYoung) October 25, 2019
The 3-3 Bears have won four straight at Soldier Field over the Chargers. But these Bears have no run game, and who would you like in a QB matchup between Chicago’s Mitchell Trubisky and the Chargers’ Philip Rivers?
On top of that, the Chargers have won eight of their last 11 road games.
Pick: Los Angeles Chargers +4 (+113).
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
