Browns vs. Dolphins Prediction
Can the Miami Dolphins take out their frustrations of a slow start to 2016 on the banged-up Cleveland Browns when the two meet today at 1PM ET?
According to the oddsmakers at BetDSI, the Dolphins are heavily favored at home, as they are getting odds of -10 points against the Browns. The over/under total for the game has been set at 42.5 points. Cleveland has actually won four of its last five meetings with Miami and the Browns are 4-1-1 against the spread in the last six meetings.
Miami hasn’t had the start it was hoping for, losing to the Seahawks and Patriots on the road to open things up. The Dolphins are 1-1 against the spread in the two games. The Miami defense was expected to be a strength, but it is giving up 427.5 yards per game through two weeks. Offensively, Miami is averaging 353.5 yards per game, but only 67 yards per game on the ground. That may not get better this week as center Mike Pouncey is out and running back Arian Foster is out with respective injuries. If Miami is going to win big, it will be up to Ryan Tannehill to play well. He has 573 yards and two touchdowns this season and is the leading rusher for Miami with 52 yards.
The Browns fell to 0-2 on the season and against the spread with a 25-20 loss to the Ravens last week. Cleveland blew a 20-2 lead in last week’s loss and suffered another QB injury, as Josh McCown injured his shoulder and is out this week. Cody Kessler will make his NFL debut for the Browns, who are averaging just 15 points and 357.5 yards per game. Isaiah Crowell had a breakout game last week and now has 195 rushing yards on the season. Cleveland will need a lot from him today to take the pressure off Kessler. Defensively, the Browns are struggling, allowing 27 points and 396.5 yards per game.
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Miami giving up 10 points is a scary thing, but consider the Dolphins have played two of the last three Super Bowl winning teams to start the year. Miami is better than their early numbers indicate. Plus, the Dolphins should have a field day against Kessler and the Cleveland offense. Though Miami hasn’t been able to run effectively, Tannehill should be able to pick apart that Browns secondary.
NFL WEEK 3 PREDICTION: MIAMI DOLPHINS -10