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Cleveland Browns NFL Betting Preview: Odds, Picks, & Best Bet (2022)

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The summer is here, and the start of the NFL season will be here before we know it. Now is the time to start digging into NFL futures, both for team futures and player futures. NFL futures can be great ways to profit during the upcoming season. We'll have you covered throughout the offseason with updated news and odds for all futures and Week 1 odds. Let's take a look at updated 2022 NFL team win totals and futures odds.

Team Betting Previews

NFL Futures Odds

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What are Team Futures?

Futures refers to any team-based wager for a future event or a result. These bets often do not pay out until weeks or even months from when they are originally placed. Bets for Win Totals and the Super Bowl winner are good examples of team futures bets.

Cleveland Browns Super Bowl Odds (+3000)

At 30-1, the Browns have the 13th highest odds of winning the Super Bowl this year. Right behind them are the Tennessee Titans, New Orleans Saints, Minnesota Vikings, Miami Dolphins, Las Vegas Raiders, and Arizona Cardinals at +4000. All of them are a better bet to win the Super Bowl than the Browns simply because of Cleveland’s quarterback situation.

Deshaun Watson's suspension is still up in the air. He could miss the entire 2022 season, ending any chance the Browns have of winning the Super Bowl. However, Watson could fight the suspension in court. Depending on how the legal fight goes, Watson could start Week 1 and play all 17 games this season. Regardless, the Browns have no chance of winning the Super Bowl this year, with or without Watson.

Cleveland Browns Conference Winner Odds (+1600)

The Browns have the eighth-highest odds to win the AFC this year. Again, they are followed by the Titans (+2000), Dolphins (+2200), New England Patriots (+2200), and Raiders (+2500). Furthermore, the last time the Browns won their conference was in 1969, when they won the Eastern Conference with a 31-20 victory over the Dallas Cowboys. Since then, the Browns have failed to make it past the Divisional round of the playoffs.

Last year the AFC was the weaker conference. The seven AFC playoff teams averaged 10.6 wins, while the seven NFC teams averaged only 11.4 wins. However, the AFC became the superior conference during the offseason. Russell Wilson got traded from the Seattle Seahawks to the Denver Broncos, and Davante Adams got traded from the Green Bay Packers to the Raiders. Even if Watson plays the entire year, the Browns have very little chance of winning the conference.

Cleveland Browns Division Winner Odds (+320)

While the AFC turned into an arms race this offseason, most of the blockbuster moves were in the AFC West division. However, the AFC North is the second toughest division in football. The Cincinnati Bengals went to the Super Bowl last year and were a split second away from potentially winning the game. Furthermore, they improved their already impressive offense this offseason, adding three new starters on the offensive line and Hayden Hurst at tight end. Meanwhile, the Baltimore Ravens were the No. 2 seed in the AFC last year despite all their injuries on defense and at running back until Lamar Jackson got hurt and missed several weeks.

The Browns could win the division. They have arguably the best 1-2 punch at running back in the NFL, a talented offensive line, and an underrated defense. However, it won't be easy. The Pittsburgh Steelers have never ended the season with a losing record during Mike Tomlin's 15 years with the team, while the Ravens and Bengals are legit Super Bowl contenders. While Cleveland could make the playoffs, it's not a bet I would make, given Watson's situation.

Cleveland Browns to Make the Playoffs Odds (Yes +110 | No -130)

With Watson facing a potential season-long suspension, the Browns will reportedly consider trading for Jimmy Garoppolo. He would be an upgrade over Jacoby Brissett as the starter, but will the addition of Garoppolo be enough for the Browns to make the playoffs? Probably not.

The San Francisco 49ers made the playoffs in two of the four years Garoppolo was the starter. However, they averaged 8.3 wins per year during four years in San Francisco. Even in the two years, the 49ers made the playoffs, they averaged 11.5 years per year. Many expect 11 wins to be the minimum needed to make the playoffs in the AFC this season. If Garoppolo gets traded to the Browns, he will need time to learn the playoff and build chemistry with his receivers. Furthermore, he is coming off off-season shoulder surgery. The playoffs are a long shot at best for the Browns.

Cleveland Browns Win Total Over/Under Odds (O8.5 +100 | U9.5 -140)

Finding the best number possible is critical when betting over/under win totals. Some books have the over/under number at 8.5 games, while others have it at 9.5 games. Depending on which side of this bet you take, be sure to grab the best number possible, even if you have to sacrifice a little on the payout.

Since returning to the league in 1999, the Browns have been one of the worst franchises in the NFL. They have won over eight games only three times in the past 23 years. Furthermore, the Browns have won under six games in nine of the past 14 seasons. More importantly, the Browns have six games against their AFC North division rivals, four against the AFC East, and four against the NFC South. They also have a matchup against the Los Angles Chargers in Week 5. Even if the Browns split all six matchups against the AFC North, they are unlikely to win nine games this season.

Favorite Cleveland Browns Futures Bet to Make: Miss the Playoffs (-130)

Cleveland has missed the playoffs in 21 of the 23 years since they rejoined the NFL in 1999. While they made the playoffs two years ago in Kevin Stefanski's first year as the head coach, the Browns are in a much weaker position now. Much will depend on the outcome of the Watson suspension. Cleveland will likely finish last in their division and miss the playoffs if Watson gets suspended for the entire year and doesn’t trade for Garoppolo. However, the Browns have a slim chance of making the playoffs if they trade for Jimmy G.

It would take a few lucky breaks to go their way, but it is possible. While that is an ideal outcome for the fan base, it's an unrealistic one for bettors. The Browns have no chance at winning the division short of a season-ending injury to Joe Burrow and Jackson. The AFC arguably has never been stronger. All four teams from the AFC West have a real chance to make the playoffs. Even if one of those teams misses the playoffs, the Browns will have to earn the last Wild Card spot over several better teams. The Browns are all but a lock to miss the playoffs in 2022.

Matthew Freedman's Best Bets After the 2022 NFL Draft >>

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Mike Fanelli is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @Mike_NFL2.

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