Offshore bookmakers and the sportsbooks in Las Vegas have released their 2011 NFL regular season win totals and the Cleveland Browns are expected to repeat their 2010 5-11 performance with the line weighted on under 6.5 wins at -135 (risk $135 to win $100). MGM Resorts International Race & Sports opened this season win total at over/under 6.5 -110 but moved to over 6.5 +115/under 6.5 -135 at the time of this review. When we check in offshore, the Browns are listed at over 6.5 -129/under 6.5 -101. Considering Cleveland is expected to win 6-7 games, their current Super Bowl odds are 60-1 in Las Vegas and 75-1 offshore.
The first thing to do if you plan on betting a season win total is break down the season in advance and create a pointspread on all their games. Cantor Gaming, who is becoming the dominant player in Las Vegas, released lines on all 256 regular season back in June. Here is the complete list of regular season projections by Cantor: Cincinnati +3.0 at Cleveland, Cleveland +7.5 at Indianapolis, Miami +1.0 at Cleveland, Tennessee +3.0 at Cleveland, Cleveland +3.5 at Oakland, Seattle +3.5 at Cleveland, Cleveland +3.0 at San Francisco, Cleveland +3.0 at Houston, St. Louis +3.0 at Cleveland, Jacksonville +3.0 at Cleveland, Cleveland +2.5 at Cincinnati, Baltimore -4.0 at Cleveland, Cleveland +9.0 at Pittsburgh, Cleveland (PK) at Arizona, Cleveland +7.5 at Baltimore and Pittsburgh -3.0 at Cleveland. Using these projections, Las Vegas has them favored in six games, a pick in one and an underdog in nine. With the Miami game essentially a pick also, you could argue based on the numbers above Cantor has them winning five to six games over the course of the season.
Regardless of your opinion on the end result of the 2011-12 season for the Browns, you have to admit with Mike Holmgren as the GM that Cleveland is on the right path in rebuilding the franchise. With Mangini gone and Shurmur in, Holmgren also brought in Dick Jauron to run the defense. The Browns are switching to a 4-3 from the 3-4 and ramped up the defensive side of the ball with pass-rushing end Jabaal Sheard and defensive tackle Phil Taylor. Another important aspect to their season is whether Colt McCoy will continue to grow as a quarterback and be the leader this squad has been missing. Right now there are just too many variables with this team to back a selection on the over, so our advice is to pass or take a small lean on the under 6.5 season win total.
Update for 08-15: Cleveland Browns Season Win Totals + Super Bowl Odds- Checking in offshore we see zero movement on the Browns Super Bowl Odds and season win totals. Cleveland is still 75-1 to win the Super Bowl and remain at over 6.5 wins -129. The Browns opened up the NFL Preseason at home -2.5 over the Green Bay Packers and won the game 27-17 with Colt McCoy going 9 of 10 for 135 yards and a touchdown.
NFL: Cleveland Browns Season Win Totals + Super Bowl Odds
What NFL football bettors need to know about Cleveland Browns 2011
Season from Pregame.com - Including predictions from Johnny Detroit and
analysis from host Marco D'Angelo.