Johnny Football is back. The Browns quarterback posted his first NFL win as a starter last week, making plays reminiscent of his college days while upstaging another Heisman winner. It may not have been enough to earn another starting assignment as Manziel could give way to veteran Josh McCown when Cleveland hosts Oakland. But it would be fun to see two of the top four quarterbacks selected in the 2014 draft go head to head.
ODDS
Cleveland opened as a 4.5-point favorite and the spread was quickly wagered down to -3.5. The Browns are 7-0-1 ATS in their last eight when facing the Raiders. The total opened at 42.5.
KEY INJURIES
D.J. Hayden – Left Sunday’s game with an undisclosed injury and didn’t return. The Raiders starting corner was replaced by Neiko Thorpe.
Josh McCown – Remained in the concussion protocol and could miss another game, giving Manziel the start. McCown was injured in Week 1 and has yet to be cleared.
KEY MISMATCH
Receiver Travis Benjamin is no longer the Browns secret weapon, not after his breakout performance against the Titans last week. Benjamin, a fourth-round pick in 2012, had just 41 career receptions entering the season, but takes on a bigger role now with the season-long suspension of Josh Gordon. Benjamin had three catches against Tennessee for 115 yards with touchdown catches of 50 and 60 yards. He averaged 38.3 yards per catch in the game and is averaging 34 yards on his six receptions this season. He’s also a threat in the return game after scoring another touchdown against the Titans on a 78-yard punt return. The Raiders will keep defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. busy this week after surrendering 493 total yard to Baltimore with 384 of those amassed by quarterback Joe Flacco through the air. Cornerbacks Hayden, T.J. Carrie, Neiko Thorpe and Keith McGill must grow up in a hurry to help Oakland’s 30th-ranked pass defense. They could use some help up front as no Raider had a sack in either of the first two games.
KEY STAT
0 – The Raiders are one of three teams to not have a sack after two games. The lack of pressure puts a lot of strain on the secondary and while the Browns aren’t a formidable passing team, they could unleash a new game plan featuring Benjamin.
BETTING ANGLE
Polarizing Cleveland quarterback Johnny Manziel found a way to silence his critics, if for only one game, and deserves another start after leading the Browns to their first win of the season and his first as a starter. If Manziel does start, he’ll be facing another member of the 2014 draft class in Derek Carr. Manziel was the second quarterback taken with the 22nd pick while Carr was selected in the second round with the 36th pick. There will be comparisons between the two and how their careers have developed with Carr getting plenty of praise. Manziel will get another chance at silencing those critics and muzzle them with another gritty performance.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
After opening with two straight home games, the Raiders hit the road for the first time in 2015 looking to end an 11-game road losing streak. This is a different Oakland team, as witnessed by last week’s comeback win over Baltimore, but the road has not been kind and the Raiders defense has plenty of leaks that will be tough to plug in a week’s time. Cleveland’s D got after Marcus Mariota last week, sacking him seven times, forcing a pair of turnovers and clamped down when the Titans made a late charge. But the storyline was Manziel, who got his first win as a starter. He threw only 15 passes but did his damage by creating time with his scrambling ability to pick out Benjamin on a pair of long touchdowns. He also didn’t turn the ball over. Oakland’s defense hasn’t recorded a sack and has been torched through the air. Watch for Benjamin and Manziel to have a few more hookups in another Browns victory.
Cleveland 28, Oakland 24
The NFL odds for this Sunday contest were first released by BookMaker and the Browns were positioned as 4.5-point favorites with a total of 42.5. Since this game can be seen by anyone with a TV, BookMaker will have a multitude of wagering options available for it. Outside of the normal lines, you can gamble on real-time odds and player props during the game. Live betting is open during every commercial break!
Access live betting lines from your mobile device or tablet at BookMaker Sportsbook! You can wager on sporting events as they unfold on television with BookMaker’s live betting platform. Real-time spreads, totals, props and moneyline odds are all available by clicking here so start betting with BookMaker today! The matchup between the Oakland Raiders and Cleveland Browns will start at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, September 27, 2015, at FirstEnergy Stadium. The matchup will be televised live on CBS.
