Browns experience offensive explosion against Bengals

Football Betting Lines

09/18/2007 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Brady Quinn era might have to wait a little longer in Cleveland.

After a disappointing opening-week loss to Pittsburgh, the Browns capped a strange week with an unbelievable 51-45 win over the Cincinnati Bengals.

Following their 34-7 loss to the Steelers, the Browns became the first team since the AFL/NFL merger to trade their season-opening quarterback before Week 2, when they shipped Charlie Frye to Seattle for a sixth-round draft pick.

Derek Anderson was named the starter and Quinn, one of Cleveland's two 2007 first-round picks, was elevated to the backup. With Quinn expected to lead the Browns' offense at some point this season, all Anderson did on Sunday was throw for 328 yards and tie a franchise record with five touchdowns.

"We knew that the capabilities were there," said Browns head coach Romeo Crennel of Anderson on Monday. "So it just came to the front on (Sunday)."

Offseason acquisition Jamal Lewis also played a huge role, compiling 215 yards on the ground, including a 66-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. It was Lewis' best game since he rushed for an NFL single-game record of 295 yards against Cleveland on September 14, 2003 as a member of the Baltimore Ravens.

Besides opening up holes for Lewis, Cleveland's offensive line, one week after giving up six sacks, didn't allow a single Cincinnati defender to get to Anderson.

Despite compiling 554 yards and the most points since Cleveland returned to the league in 1999, the game was still in jeopardy late in the fourth quarter as Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer led his team into Browns' territory. However, with 20 seconds remaining, cornerback Leigh Bodden made a diving interception near Cleveland's sideline and managed to stay inbounds at the 27- yard line, giving Crennel just his second win against an AFC North opponent (2-12).

Surprisingly, this wasn't the highest scoring game between Cleveland and Cincinnati. On November 28, 2004, Rudi Johnson rushed for 202 yards and two touchdowns as the Bengals defeated the Browns, 58-48.

DYNAMIC DUO

Anderson made good use of two of Cleveland's up-and-coming offensive threats: wide receiver Braylon Edwards and tight end Kellen Winslow.

Edwards, a third-year pro out of Michigan, caught eight passes for 146 yards and two touchdowns. Taken with the third overall pick in the 2005 draft, Edwards is coming off a 2006 season in which he had 61 receptions for 884 yards and six touchdowns.

Winslow, meanwhile, had six catches for 100 yards on Sunday, including a 25- yard touchdown right before halftime that gave Cleveland a 27-21 lead at the break.

Winslow, the sixth overall selection in the 2004 draft, was healthy for the first time last year. The Miami-Florida product, who played in just two games his rookie season after breaking his right leg and missed the entire 2005 season after tearing his ACL in an off-season motorcycle accident, caught 89 passes for 875 yards and three touchdowns in 2006.

DEFENSELESS DEFENSE

Sunday's thrilling victory over Cincinnati hid the fact that Cleveland's defense is still a work in progress.

The Browns have now given up 79 points through the first two games this season, including 896 total yards and 10 touchdown passes. Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger established a career-high with four touchdowns, while Palmer set a Bengals' franchise record with six touchdowns.

"We struggled a little bit defensively," said Crennel. "We knew it was going to be a challenge going in. (The Bengals) offense is a high-powered offense. They got receivers, they got a runner, they got a quarterback. We knew it was going to be tough."

Regardless of who is under center for Cleveland, the Browns will struggle this season if they can't defend the pass.

UP NEXT

The Browns will hit the road for the first time next week when they travel to Oakland to square off with the Raiders.

One of Cleveland's four wins last year came against Oakland on October 1. The now-departed Frye threw for three touchdowns in that game as the Browns won 24-21.

Crennel is 2-0 against the Raiders, and the Browns have won six of their last seven games against Oakland.

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL BETTING

NCAA Football Betting

Many fans thought it was the best side in the nation by the end of last season. This year, the polls have built on Georgia's momentum and granted it the No. 1 preseason ranking, followed by Ohio State and USC. (The Associated Press has the Buckeyes at No. 2; USA Today took the Trojans.)

"To have people believing we have one of the best teams in the nation going into this thing, it's exciting for us," Bulldogs coach Mark Richt told the AP. "I don't think anything is guaranteed, but we certainly have put ourselves in position where at least the college football world thinks we're pretty good."

Georgia Bulldogs - 9.5 wins

There's no question they're good, but the Bulldogs have one of the toughest 12-game schedules in the nation, mostly because they play in the powerhouse Southeastern Conference. Away games at No. 15 Arizona State, No. 7 LSU and No. 10 Auburn loom large, with contests between the hedges versus No. 24 Alabama and No. 18 Tennessee as well as the World's Largest Cocktail Party in Jacksonville versus No.5 Florida.

Ohio State Buckeyes - 10 wins

Like the Bulldogs, the Buckeyes also have a number of tough road contests in 2008. After two scrimmages dressed up as real games versus Youngstown State and Ohio, it's off to face USC. Other tough away games include No.13 Wisconsin in October and No. 20 Illinois in November. Granted, it should be pretty easy sledding at the Horseshoe. In fact, the only ranked team that travels to Columbus is No. 22 Penn State, in October.

USC Trojans - 10.5 wins

A similarly light schedule awaits the Trojans of Southern California, which is why the oddsmakers' total is one win more and the over is currently commanding -150 odds. Pete Carroll's troops only play three ranked teams in 2008, and all of those games are at home. After what should be an easy trip to Virginia to start things off on Aug. 30, the Trojans get two weeks to prepare for Ohio State in Los Angeles. Their two other ranked opponents, No. 21 Oregon and No. 15 Arizona State, visit in consecutive weeks to start the month of October. After that, the competition eases up. Of course, this is the same highly-touted school that lost to Stanford in 2007 and Oregon State in 2006. And don't discount the fact that USC plays its biggest rivals, Notre Dame and UCLA, back-to-back to close out the regular season. On paper, the Trojans are far superior, but motivation will be high for the Irish and Bruins, especially if their historic foes are in national-title contention.

Odds to Win the Heisman Trophy

Tim Tebow, Florida - 7/2
He won it last year, so it's no surprise he's the favorite to do it again, making him just the second player to go back-to-back. Ohio State's Archie Griffin turned the trick in 1974 and 1975, and Tebow's coach, Urban Meyer, is pretty sure his star quarterback can match the Buckeyes legend.

"There has never been anyone quite like him," Meyer told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "I am very lucky to be his coach."

Chris Wells, Ohio State - 5/1

The man they call "Beanie" was a star recruit out of high school, so it's not like nobody knew who the star tailback was before he rushed for 576 yards as a freshman in 2006 and 1,609 as a sophomore. But perhaps his finest moment came last year versus Michigan when he rumbled for 222 yards and two touchdowns in the Buckeyes' 14-3 victory over the hated Wolverines.

Knowshon Moreno, Georgia - 8/1

If the Bulldogs are to live up to expectations, they'll need a huge effort from their sophomore running back. This might be the last year of college ball for Moreno, who rushed for 1,334 yards and for 14 touchdowns as a freshman, while adding 253 receiving yards on 20 receptions, so expect big things for the man from Belford, N.J.

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Pro Football Odds : NFC SOUTH BETTING ODDS

NFL Sports Betting

NFL betting action is back! At MySportsbook, all of the pro football odds are posted for the NFC North. Check out how we see the four teams in this cloudy division stacking up this year in the chase for the playoffs! Green Bay Packers (+125) - With QB Aaron Rodgers leading the offense and DC Dom Capers working his magic on defense, the Packers are a real force to be reckoned with.

Virtually nothing changed on this offense for Green Bay from last year to this year, save for the addition of rookie OT Brian Bulaga to the bunch. Expect more huge numbers from the Pack, and a relatively favorable schedule should get them over the hump and into the playoffs once again this season. My NFL Betting Predictions: 11-5, 1st place in NFC North Minnesota Vikings (+130) - There are still too many unknowns about the Vikes this year. There is a huge difference between QB Brett Favre and either Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels under center. Plus, is Favre comes back, is he really going to be able to keep his pick total under double digits again? Depth at running back looked like it might have been an issue with RB Chester Taylor fleeing in free agency, but drafting RB Toby Gerhart should pick up the difference. This defense is still suitable, but with a first place schedule, making the playoffs is going to be very tough regardless of whether #4 comes back or not.

There is a huge difference between QB Brett Favre and either Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels under center. Plus, is Favre comes back, is he really going to be able to keep his pick total under double digits again? Depth at running back looked like it might have been an issue with RB Chester Taylor fleeing in free agency, but drafting RB Toby Gerhart should pick up the difference. This defense is still suitable, but with a first place schedule, making the playoffs is going to be very tough regardless of whether #4 comes back or not. Play this weekly NFL Football Contestto see if you can win.

Chicago Bears (+350) - The Bears are probably a bit of an overhyped team once again this year.No, we don't think it is plausible for QB Jay Cutler to have as bad of a season as he did last year, and we do think the additions of RB Chester Taylor and DE Julius Peppers are going to help immensely, but there's still something in the water in the Windy City that we aren't so sure about. Maybe Chicago finds its way to .500... but then again, maybe it doesn't. If Favre comes back, Cutler might be the worst quarterback in this division this year.

Detroit Lions (+1500) - The Lions are probably once again going to be the whipping boys for the rest of the teams in the NFC North, but they aren't just going to roll over and die once again. There is some real talent amassing on this team offensively, as the combination of QB Matt Stafford, RB Jahvid Best, WR Calvin Johnson, and TE Brandon Pettigrew should put a bunch of points on the board if the offensive line can even remotely hold up. The questions really lie on defense, where it feels like DT Ndamukong Suh is going to be trying to stop opposing teams all by himself. This year should show some marked improvement in the Motor City.

The Patriots will make NFL betting fans a lot of money this season, get in early and enjoy the cash.

NFL Betting

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