The Cleveland Browns have already won more games than they did all of last season and the victories are not about to stop. This looks like a different team, at least through the first two preseason games, and the defense has been solid with Myles Garrett looking every bit like the first overall pick he was. The Browns need to decide on a starting quarterback, but that’s not a problem the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have with Jameis Winston ready to lead them to bigger things. The teams hook up in Week 3 of the NFL preseason schedule.
This contest in Week 3 of the preseason will take place on Saturday, August 26, 2017, at 7:30 p.m. ET at Raymond James Stadium.
Odds Analysis
With Cleveland playing on Monday night the odds have yet to hit the board. The Browns hit the road for the first time this preseason looking to change their fortunes. They’ve lost three straight preseason away games and they are just 1-5 SU and 2-4 ATS in their last six. The Bucs are playing their first preseason home game and will be favored by at least the standard field goal.
Quarterback Rotation
The mystery remains for the Browns quarterback situation and Hue Jackson used all four quarterbacks in Monday night’s win over the Giants. Brock Osweiler started and played just two series with little to show for it. He completed 6 of 8 passes for only 25 yards. The first drive ended with a tipped interception and the second was a punt.
Nobody in the competition has separated from the pack and we’ll likely see Osweiler start the opener. But the battle continues and DeShone Kizer got a chance against the Giants first team defense. He played four series with the first two ending in punts. Against mainly second-string defenders and working with a short field, Kizer scored the game’s only touchdown on 1-yard sneak.
The Bucs used just two quarterbacks in last week’s game with reserve Ryan Griffin on the mend from a shoulder injury. Jameis Winston played the first half and was sharp against Jacksonville’s first-team defense, completing 21 of 29 passes for 196 yards. He didn’t throw a touchdown pass but he led the offense on three scoring drives that resulted in a Chris Martin touchdown run and two field goals.
Backup Ryan Fitzpatrick played the second half and played better than in the opener. He completed 6 of 9 attempts for 47 yards and threw a pick. Rookie Sefo Liufau doesn’t figure in the team’s plans and won’t play on Saturday. We’re likely to see a similar rotation with Winston and Fitzpatrick splitting the game against the Browns.
Coaching History
After going winless last preseason and watching that carryover to a 0-14 start, the Browns have turned the tables this season. Jackson knows it’s going to be a process and winning exhibition games is part of that process. Jackson went 0-4 SU and ATS in his only season as coach of Raiders in 2011 and improved his overall preseason record to 2-8 SU and ATS.
Dirk Koetter evened his preseason record at 3-3 with last week’s win over Jacksonville. One of those wins came in Week 3 last year when the Bucs beat the Browns 30-13 in Tampa. The Bucs have played below the closing total in their last three exhibition games and the under is 4-1-1 in Koetter’s tenure.
Free ATS Pick
While things are trending upward for the Browns, the quarterback situation could be an ongoing battle all year. And it wouldn’t be the Browns if that wasn’t the situation. Osweiler is likely going to start once the season opens and will have a chance to solidify the position with a nice effort against a fierce Bucs defense.
Tampa’s first team offense was crisp against the Jags last week and Winston looks like he’s ready to take the next step as a leader. The Browns needed to improve their defense and Garrett looks like the real deal. The Browns allowed just 99 yards last week to the Giants, but the Bucs are more polished on that side of the football.
Koetter is an offensive coach and he has done a nice job with Winston. The Bucs need to finish drives and that will be a point of concern against the Browns. When the Bucs get the chance, expect them to put the ball in the endzone.
NFL Odds: Buccaneers 22, Browns 12
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