The Cleveland Browns and the Jacksonville Jaguars meet Sunday in NFL action from EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville. Here’s a Jaguars vs Browns prediction. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best Jaguars vs Browns pick.
Cleveland Browns Betting Preview
The Browns didn’t have much luck in their first two preseason games; there were rough outings on both sides of the ball. Cleveland took on the Chicago Bears in their exhibition opener and ended up falling 34-10. In game two versus the Buffalo Bills, it was more of the same. The Browns gave up points in every quarter along the way to a 31-7 blowout loss. The Cleveland offense picked up just 194 yards (110 passing) and 12 first downs in the defeat.
In their preseason finale versus the New England Patriots on August 27, the Browns were able to finish strong. Cleveland jumped out to a 27-13 lead in the first half and eventually finished off a 37-13 blowout. QB Dillon Gabriel was 12-of-15 for 186 yards and three scores while Taylen Green led the rush on 66 yards from eight carries. Ben Patterson had 71 yards off two catches.
Jacksonville Jaguars Betting Preview
On the Jaguars’ side, they split their first two preseason games. Jacksonville was able to power out a victory over the New Orleans Saints 24-20 in the opener. In game two, the Jaguars fell to the Panthers 34-17. In that one, Jacksonville had 318 yards (238 passing) on offense but only 16 first downs and a 4-of-12 success rate on third-down tries. The nine penalties for 60 yards and two turnovers didn’t help either.
Matched up against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in their preseason game three on August 28, the Jaguars held a very modest 3-0 lead going into the locker room. Jacksonville held strong from there and eventually blanked the Bucs 19-0. QB Carter Bradley was 8-of-15 for 77 yards and a TD. J’Mari Taylor had 12 carries for 44 yards, and Hunter Long added 47 yards off two catches.
Why the Jacksonville Jaguars will win
- The Browns have lost each of their last six road games without Denzel Ward.
- The Jaguars have won eight of their last nine games without Travis Hunter.
- The Jaguars have covered the spread in eight of their last nine games.
- The Browns have failed to cover the spread in each of their last five road games without Denzel Ward.
- The Browns have lost the first quarter in three of their last four September road games against AFC South opponents.
- The Jaguars have won the first half in five of their last six games as favorites in Florida.
- The Jaguars have scored the first touchdown in nine of their last 10 Sunday games at EverBank Stadium.
Why the Cleveland Browns will win
- The Browns have won four of their last five games as underdogs without Dillon Gabriel.
- The Jaguars have lost seven of their last eight September games against AFC opponents.
- The Jaguars have failed to cover the spread in seven of their last eight games without Brenton Strange.
- The Browns have covered the spread in each of their last five games as underdogs against AFC opponents.
- The Browns have won the first half in seven of their last eight games against AFC South opponents.
- The Browns have scored the first touchdown in each of their last seven road games against AFC South opponents.
- The Browns have won the first quarter in each of their last three games as road underdogs against AFC opponents.
Total Points Facts
- Each of the Browns’ last eight road games without Isaiah McGuire have gone OVER the total points line.
- Eight of the Jaguars’ last nine home games in September have gone UNDER the total points line.
- Three of the last four Sunday games at EverBank Stadium have gone OVER the total points line.
Jacksonville Jaguars Player Prop Facts
- Bhayshul Tuten has scored a touchdown in each of his five previous regular-season appearances with the Jaguars as favorites against AFC opponents.
- Trevor Lawrence has recorded 22+ completions in six of the Jaguars’ last seven games against AFC North opponents.
- Trevor Lawrence has recorded 244+ passing yards in each of the Jaguars’ last five regular season games.
- Jakobi Meyers has recorded 38+ receiving yards in 25 of his last 26 Sunday regular season appearances with his team as a favorite.
- Chris Rodriguez has recorded 41+ rushing yards in each of his last five appearances.
- Jakobi Meyers has recorded 41+ rushing and receiving yards in 21 of his last 23 Sunday regular season appearances with his team as a home favorite.
- Trevor Lawrence recorded the equal-most passing touchdowns in a single game last season (5 vs Jets, Week 15).
Cleveland Browns Player Prop Facts
- Harold Fannin Jr. has scored the last touchdown in each of his last three appearances against AFC opponents.
- Harold Fannin Jr. has scored at least one touchdown in four of his last five appearances.
- Deshaun Watson has recorded 186+ passing yards in each of his last eight appearances with his team as an underdog against AFC South opponents.
- Jerry Jeudy has recorded 48+ receiving yards in each of his eight previous September road appearances.
- Deshaun Watson has recorded 20+ rushing yards in each of his last seven appearances with his team as a road underdog against AFC opponents.
- Deshaun Watson has recorded 18+ completions in 21 of his last 22 appearances with his team as an underdog against AFC opponents.
- Malachi Corley has recorded 31+ rushing and receiving yards in three of the Browns’ last four road games against AFC opponents.
- Dylan Sampson had the most rushing attempts without a rushing touchdown last season (65).
Matchup/League Facts
- Jaguars – seven different players recorded 70+ receiving yards in a game last season – equal-most in the NFL.
- The Jaguars ranked 1st in the NFL in rushing yards allowed per game (85.6) last season.
- The Browns ranked 1st in the NFL in total punt yards (4165) last season.
- The Browns ranked 1st in the NFL in 1st downs against (285) last season.
Jaguars vs Browns Prediction
I’ll go with the Browns, but it’s a coin flip. Cleveland looked good in their exhibition finale against the Patriots, bagging 379 total yards (213 passing), 6.3 yards per play, 23 first downs, and zero turnovers. The defense came up with a couple of picks and gave up just 4-of-12 on third-down tries. It was a good way to get into the real season, as Cleveland will have a tricky road in the early going. The Browns have six road games in their first 10 outings, but overall the schedule isn’t terrible. Cleveland has a winnable game here in the opener as well.
As for the Jaguars, they made the Bucs look pretty bad in their preseason finale. Jacksonville gave up just 87 yards (31 passing), 1.9 yards per play, six first downs, and a 2-of-12 success rate on third downs. The big defensive performance overshadowed a fairly rough offensive outing on the other side. Jacksonville is probably in for a regression this season; it’s going to be a real struggle to get past eight wins or so.