The Cleveland Browns starters will take the field for the first time this week after last week’s Hall of Fame game against the Jets featured nothing but backups.
Deshaun Watson and most of the other starters are expected to play a drive when they face off against the Washington Commanders in Week 1 of the NFL Preseason. Washington will give Sam Howell a shot at the starting job after the Carson Wentz experiment failed in 2022.
Continue below as we share our best bets and team props for this matchup.
Commanders vs Browns Odds
NFL odds used for this Washington vs Cleveland preview were found at Caesars Sportsbook and are current as of August 7, 10 PM ET.
- Moneyline: Browns (-155) • Commanders (+130)
- Spread: Browns -3 (-110) • Commanders +3 (-110)
- Total Points: Over 38.5 (-110) • Under 38.5 (-110)
- Implied Score: Browns 20.75, Underdog Commanders 17.75
Commanders vs Browns Predictions
Score Pick: Browns 20, Commanders 16
We will see many second and third-stringers in this game, and the truth is that the Browns have better depth at key positions. Another reason to like the Browns in Week 1 of the preseason is they’ve already had a game to get up to speed.
Quarterback Kellen Mond completed 13 of 19 passes for 91 yards and a touchdown. Meanwhile, rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson helped Cleveland drive late in the fourth before Austin Watkins caught the game-winner.
Regarding the total score, this pick is somewhat based on the Commanders having a top-10 defense paired with a bottom-10 offense. Because of this, the Commanders tied for the fewest number of games to go over last season (5) and averaged fewer than 19 points per game.
Commanders vs Browns Best Bets & Props
Under 38.5 (-110)
BetMGM Sportsbook • WAGER: 1 unit
Considering several factors, the under seems like the most solid wager for this preseason showdown. The main reason to look towards the under is how disjointed things can be on offense during the preseason.
It’s important to remember we’re watching guys who may not even be good enough to make the final roster heading into Week 1. With sufficient non-NFL caliber talent on the field, it’s easy for offensive schemes to break down.
Furthermore, as mentioned above, the Commanders cashed more Unders than any other team last season and averaged less than 19 points a game. That’s why Under 38.5 is my NFL Bet of the Day.
Browns Moneyline (-155)
BetMGM Sportsbook • WAGER: 1 unit
The oddsmakers have it right here, and the Browns should cruise to a win in Week 1 of the preseason.
One reason behind this pick is how bad the offense was in Washington last season. They finished the 28th-ranked offense regarding yards per play, 25th in third down conversions, and, critically, 24th in points per game.
While Washington’s defense wasn’t bad, they did allow far too many yards to opposing rushers. The Browns have a strong core of running backs headlined by Nick Chubb and featuring backups like Jerome Ford, Demetric Felton Jr., and John Kelly Jr.
Browns -3 (-110)
Caesars Sportsbook • WAGER: 1 unit
Despite going 2-3 against the spread last season as home favorites, the Browns showed me a lot of good things in their Hall of Fame game against the Jets. The offense looked sharp, and the defense held on long enough to secure an ATS win.
Also, for what it’s worth, the Browns are already 1-0 against the spread this preseason after beating the New York Jets in the Hall of Fame Game. It’s not much to go off of, but they are the only NFL team to cover an official game this season.
Commanders vs Browns Same Game Parlay
There are insufficient props to build a same-game parlay for the Commanders vs Browns game. If that changes, I will update this page accordingly.
