A poor coaching hire, an offensive mess, rinse, and repeat. The Cleveland Browns, despite owning one of the most talented rosters in the NFL, sputtered their way to a 6-10 finish and yet another head coaching search. Newly-acquired superstar Odell Beckham Jr. and Baker Mayfield couldn’t get on the same page and the Browns, once again, re-wrote the formula on how not to rebuild. A bright spot from their disastrous 2019 was the emergence of star running back Nick Chubb.
The Browns loaded up on talent in free agency and, for the third time in three years, are back on track to compete in the AFC. Their one-season window to secure the division is likely up, and Cleveland has to compete with a glut of hurdles in the AFC North. First overall pick Joe Burrow could quickly join the ranks of the best young quarterback group in the NFL; gamebreaker Lamar Jackson and Baltimore’s cheat code roster returns almost everyone; and Ben Roethlisberger is back as the reaper of the Browns’ defense.
Can new head coach Kevin Stefanski take such a talented roster and compete in the most difficult division in football? This page will serve as a guide to (ideally) answer that question.
CLEVELAND BROWNS 2020 SCHEDULE AND BETTING ODDS
| Week | Date (Time) | Time | Opponent | Opening Spread |
|---|
| 1 | Sunday, Sep. 13 | 1:00 ET | at Baltimore | Ravens -8 |
| 2 | Thursday, Sep. 17 | 8:20 ET | vs. Cincinnati | Browns -9 |
| 3 | Sunday, Sep. 27 | 1:00 ET | vs. Washington | Browns -9 |
| 4 | Sunday, Oct. 4 | 1:00 ET | at Dallas | Cowboys -5.5 |
| 5 | Sunday, Oct. 11 | 4:25 ET | vs. Indianapolis | Browns -1 |
| 6 | Sunday, Oct. 18 | 1:00 ET | at Pittsburgh | Steelers -3.5 |
| 7 | Sunday, Oct. 25 | 1:00 ET | at Cincinnati | Browns -4.5 |
| 8 | Sunday, Nov. 1 | 1:00 ET | vs. Las Vegas | Browns -2.5 |
| 9 | BYE | |||
| 10 | Sunday, Nov. 15 | 1:00 ET | vs. Houston | Browns -2.5 |
| 11 | Sunday, Nov. 22 | 1:00 ET | vs. Philadelphia | Eagles -2 |
| 12 | Sunday, Nov. 29 | 1:00 ET | at Jacksonville | Browns -6.5 |
| 13 | Sunday, Dec. 6 | 1:00 ET | at Tennessee | Titans -2 |
| 14 | Monday, Dec. 14 | 8:15 ET | vs. Baltimore | Ravens -6 |
| 15 | Sunday, Dec. 20 | 1:00 ET | at NY Giants | Browns -2.5 |
| 16 | Sunday, Dec. 27 | TBA | at NY Jets | Browns -1 |
| 17 | Sunday, Jan. 3 | 1:00 ET | vs. Pittsburgh | TBA |
CLEVELAND BROWNS ODDS: SUPER BOWL
Cleveland opened as +3300 to win Super Bowl LV and now sit around +4000 at most sportsbooks. That number falls third in the AFC North and behind teams like Minnesota, Dallas, and Buffalo.
If you bet on the Browns a few months back at +3300, a $10 bet on Cleveland would pay out a total of $340– $330 for the win plus the $10 initial bet amount back. A $20 bet would result in a $680 payout ($660 in winnings). The Browns are longshots for sure, but could produce some serious winnings. Here is a look at the best Browns Super Bowl odds.
CLEVELAND BROWNS ODDS: AFC NORTH
The AFC North is one of the most talented divisions in the NFL and should be a wild race to the finish. The Browns sat third in odds to win at +550 in August, behind Pittsburgh (+350) and Baltimore (-225), but ahead of Cincinnati (+2500). In this example, a $10 bet on Cleveland to win the division has a total payout of $65 ($55 in winnings, plus the initial $10 bet).
CLEVELAND BROWNS ODDS: WIN TOTAL
After a disastrous season in 2019, the Browns were set at a modest 8.5 wins by DraftKings in August.
- O 8.5 wins (-121)
- U 8.5 wins (-100)
If the Browns finish 9-7 or better, the over would win and a $10 bet would win $9.09.
BROWNS 2019 RECAP
Record: 6-10
ATS: 5-10-1
The Browns were crowned Super Bowl Champions by overzealous media outlets and some eager fans in June. With weapons added like Odell Beckham Jr., Kareem Hunt, Sheldon Richardson, and Olivier Vernon, Cleveland was prime to capitalize on a weaker AFC North. Come week 1, the Browns were run out of their own stadium by eventual AFC runners-up Tennessee– a game that would leave a lasting impact on the players and fans alike. The offense managed just 13 behind three interceptions from Baker Mayfield and the Titans hung 43 on what was supposed to be the Browns’ stout defense.
First-time head coach Freddie Kitchens was outclassed week after week until he was eventually canned at the end of the season. The biggest disappointment of the season was a sophomore Mayfield, who finished with just over 3,800 yards (well under his prop of 4,300) and 21 interceptions (2nd to only Jameis Winston). Cleveland was at the center of criticism after that incident on Thursday Night Football which was an embarrassment for the organization and players. Demeanors changed, as the Browns finished the season 2-4, including a loss to Cincinnati in Week 17 when the players had visibly quit.
Flashes of what could have been were seen in Week 4 when Cleveland hung 40 on the 14-2 Ravens behind 165 yards and three touchdowns from Nick Chubb. More often than not, the Browns continued to do what they have done since 1999 — painfully disappoint.