Teddy Covers
Baltimore -10.5
JOHN RYAN
15* Browns
10* Ravens/Browns Over
Charlie
500* Baltimore @ Cleveland Over 39
500* Cleveland +11
500* Kentucky -20
30* Portland +4
20* Portland @ Atlanta under 189'
20* Western Kentucky -8'
10* Cal State Northridge +1
Dallas -1' Free Play
DAVE COKIN
Baltimore
Scott Spreitzer
Cleveland
LARRY NESS
25* MNF O/U Clash
Bal/Cle Over
The Browns visited Baltimore in Week 3 at 0-2 to play the 2-0 Ravens. Brady Quinn was Cleveland's starting QB in that game but after completing 6-of-8 passes for only 34 yards and one interception in the first half (Ravens led 20-0), was replaced at halftime by Derek Anderson. Anderson would throw three interceptions in the second half of a 34-3 Baltimore win. Anderson was given the staring job but the Browns would lose four of their next five games, winning only at Buffalo, 6-3. In that game, Anderson was a HORRIFIC 2-of-17 for 23 yards. After Cleveland's 30-6 loss at Chicago in Week 8 (Anderson was 6-for-17 with two interceptions), the Browns are ready to go back to Quinn. Why not? Anderson has completed just 42.9 percent with two TDs, nine INTs and owns the league's worst QB rating at 36.2. The Ravens made it all the way to the AFC championship game last year and weren't 'put away' until Troy Polamalu had a 40-yard interception return for a TD with under five minutes to go. All this behind a rookie QB in Joe Flacco but keyed by a great defense. The Ravens were 3-0 after beating the Browns in Week 3 but Baltimore's only win since then (the Ravens are 4-4), was a Week 8 win over the Broncos. Baltimore's 'lived' by its defense this decade but this year the offense has taken on a bigger role. The Ravens allowed just 261.1 YPG last season but have allowed 320.6 YPG in 2009. Baltimore gave up 369 yards in losing to the Bengals last week and has allowed more than 400 three times in 2009, something it hadn't done since 2006. However, Flacco has grown by leaps and bounds from his rookie season. After averaging a modest 185.7 YPG in 2008, he's averaging 255.5 YPG in 2009. He threw just 14 TD passes all of last year but already has 12, just halfway through this year. Ray Rice has become one of the league's most versatile RBs, overnight. He's run for 573 yards (5.3 YPC) and is the team's leading receiver with 46 catches and 436 yards. The Ravens have left themselves little "margin of error" if they want to earn a wild card spot this year. With that in mind, I expect them to attack a Cleveland defense which has allowed a league-worst 409.1 YPG. Can the Browns hope to stay with the Ravens? The answer is, only if they score. Quinn has a lot to prove and as mentioned, this year's Baltimore defense has not played up to its standards of the past. MNF 25* on Bal/Cle Over.
FREDDY WILLS
3.5-DIME NFL POD
Take Ravens -10 buy 1/2 point 3.5 Dime POD
I can't think of any reason to take the Browns other than what they did a year ago against the Giants at home on Monday Night. Major difference here tonight this is not a non-conference game. Not only is it a conference game, but it's a divisional game and the Ravens have to keep pace with the other wild card teams including the Steelers, and the Jaguars. Ravens are a proud team with a defense not playing up to its capabilities but is still ranked 7th in rush defense this year and shut down the Browns the first time 34-3 sending Brady Quinn to the bench.
Quinn back into the lineup off the bye will start for the Browns and I don't see what will change. They don't have a go to receiver and their defense is ranked last in the league. They are 25th against the pass and 31st against the run and 28th in points allowed. Ray Rice is going to have his way with the Browns rush defense all night long which will set up the pass enough for the Ravens to score into the 20's and maybe even into the 30's. Browns on the other hand unless they get some turnovers will most likely not going to score over 10 points in my opinion.