Browns Open as 5.5-Point Underdogs vs Ravens in Week 4 Trip to Baltimore
- The 1-2 Cleveland Browns are 5.5-point underdogs as they travel to Baltimore to face the 2-1 Ravens
- Cleveland is 1-10 straight up in its last 11 trips to Baltimore
- The Ravens are 18-3 SU in their last 21 games against the Browns
Did we all overestimate the Cleveland Browns? Perhaps we fell in love with swashbuckling romanticism of quarterback Baker Mayfield and forecast more than the Browns were ready to bite off and chew?
Three games into the NFL season, that would certainly appear to be the case.
At 1-2, Cleveland’s only victory is a 23-3 decision against a New York Jets team that was forced to deploy their third-string quarterback.
Meanwhile, the Baltimore Ravens are busily doing Ravens things. Winning the games they should. Taking care of business. Putting themselves in positions to succeed.
A 2-1, Baltimore’s only loss is a close setback against a 3-0 Kansas City Chiefs team that was a score away from a trip to the Super Bowl a year ago.
The sportsbooks are also beginning to reassess when it comes to the Browns. Cleveland will travel to Baltimore Sunday as 5.5-point underdogs in the Browns vs Ravens odds.
Cleveland Browns vs Baltimore Ravens Odds
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Over/Under |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Browns | n/a | +5.5 (-105) | Over 46.0 (-105) |
| Baltimore Ravens | n/a | -5.5 (-115) | Under 46.0 (-115) |
*Odds taken 09/23/19.
Cleveland has one win in its last 11 trips to Baltimore.
Completing The Browns Out
Where to start? Or, more precisely, when will the Browns get started? Embarrassingly drubbed 43-17 at home by the Tennessee Titans to open the season, Cleveland had the defending NFC Championship Los Angeles Rams on the ropes in Week 3. Then they surrendered 10 fourth-quarter points and lost 20-13 to drop to 0-2 at home.
.@CJMcCollum offered his thoughts on the Browns' loss to the Rams … pic.twitter.com/ThJbPS0koT
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) September 23, 2019
Mayfield has thrown for three touchdowns against a league-high five interceptions through three games. He’s 11th in the NFL in passing yardage and owns a passer rating of 70.5. That’s worse than Eli Manning (78.7), who got benched by the Giants.
Odell Beckham Jr., the sensational addition of the offseason? He has one TD reception and averaged just 9.3 yards per catch in the loss to the Rams. Nick Chubb is averaging 77.6 yards rushing per game.
That’s So Ravens
Maybe Michigan hired the wrong Harbaugh brother. John Harbaugh just seems to find ways to keep the Ravens relevant.
Even with Sunday’s loss to Kansas City, Baltimore welcomes Cleveland to town knowing that a victory gives the Ravens a two-game lead in the AFC North just four games into the season. Running back Mark Ingram, one of the quietest offseason free-agent additions, rumbled for 103 yards and three TDs in the loss to the Chiefs.
Mark Ingram was dodging defenders left and right ? @markingram21 pic.twitter.com/2Pn7YejjqK
— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) September 22, 2019
A Browns defense minus six starters held Rams running back Todd Gurley to 43 yards on 14 carries. They’ll have to be equally stingy when it comes to stopping Ingram, or Cleveland will be in for a long day.
Not Ready For Prime Time?
The early season isn’t getting any easier for the Browns. After Baltimore, they’re back in the national spotlight, facing a Monday night game at San Francisco. Then they’ve got the Seahawks at home before another road trip to New England to face Tom Brady and the Patriots.
Baker Mayfield throws an interception on 4th and goal giving the #LARams the victory on the road. Rams win 20-13 vs the #Browns. #NFL #LARvsCLE #NFL100 #SundayNightFootball pic.twitter.com/CmEl3EZUPo
— Swapty Sports (@SwaptySports) September 23, 2019
Maybe it was just too much to expect the NFL’s youngest team to be able to navigate such a difficult early-season stretch.
A 2-4 start isn’t out of the question, and 1-5 is possible.
The Browns are 2-5 against the spread in their last seven against Baltimore. The Ravens have scored an average of 27 points in their last four home games against Cleveland.
That loss stings. But keep it in perspective.
Ravens were within 5 points on a day where refs took away an INT, a 45-yard run, another 1st-down run and gave KC a fresh set of downs instead of 4th down.
Ravens are still a very good team.
— Garrett Downing (@gdowning14) September 22, 2019
Baltimore is the NFL’s #1 offense in terms of both points scored (36.7) and yards gained (511.7) per game.
Take the Ravens and give the points before the spread grows.
Pick: Baltimore Ravens [-5.5 (-115)].
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.
