Week 7 Seattle Seahawks vs Cleveland Browns NFL Free Pick – Odds – Handicapping Preview
The Seattle Seahawks return from their bye this week in search of their third win in four games when they travel East to take on a Cleveland Browns team that is certainly improved but has lost two straight games.
Seattle Seahawks (2-3) at Cleveland Browns (2-3)
When: 1:00 PM ET, Sunday, October 23, 2011
Where: Cleveland Browns Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio
Broadcast: FOX
Hawks vs. Browns Betting Lines from betonline.com
Spread: Browns -3
Moneyline: Hawks +140: Browns -160
Over/Under: 40 points
Both teams sit at 2-3 and would love to reach the improbable .500 mark after six games of the 2011-2012 season. The game features two of the worst offenses and two of the worst defenses statistically in the NFL.
Seattle looked like a team that was throwing their helmets into the Andrew Luck sweepstakes but wins over Arizona and the Giants has brought a little optimism to the Pacific Northwest. The running game appears to be rounding into shape although it is still 29th in the NFL (83.00 yards per game). The rushers gained 145 yards in their last outing to the delight of Hawks coaches and fans.
The passing game is also better than advertised although Charlie Whitehurst may be forced to start this week in place of an evolving Tavaris Jackson. Sidney Rice has been a savior and Doug Baldwin has been a revelation. Seattle owns the 26th ranked passing game (205 yards per game) but is improving each and every week.
Seattle’s defense took a hit this week with the loss of Marcus Trufant to Injured Reserve. The pass defense has not been very good – 23rd ranked and allowing 268 yards per game. The run defense on the other hand has been good – 7th ranked and allowing 97.80 yards per game.
Cleveland is a team that appears to be lacking an identity early in the season. The once feared running game has been brutal and the defense has been equally as bad. For the first time in a very long while, the Browns are utterly dependant on a Quarterback for success.
The Browns offense has struggled this season and ranks 27th in scoring – just 18.20 points per game. The once solid running game is a shell of its former self and now faces the possibility to facing the Hawks without Peyton Hillis who sustained a hamstring injury last week. Cleveland has the 30th ranked running game averaging just 81.60 yards per game. Montario Hardesty who will likely start at running back has been OK however averaging 3.6 yards per carry. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Colt McCoy has been the lone bright spot in the Browns offense guiding his team to the 18th ranked passing attack (228.80 yards per game). Mohamed Massaquoi, Greg Little and Ben Watson have become reliable and underrated targets for the unexpectedly decent Cleveland air attack.
Cleveland’s defense has been a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde unit all season long. They are an impressive 4th ranked against the pass (192 yards per game) but are a dreadful 27th against the run (129.80 yards per game).
Betting Prediction: The Seattle Seahawks are 1-6 SU and ATS in their last seven games on the road and are now 15-35-1 ATS in their last 51 away from home. The Hawks are 6-20 ATS in their last 26 games as underdog and are a miserable 2-10 ATS in their last 12 games following their bye. The Cleveland Browns are 2-7 SU and 1-7-1 ATS in their last nine games. They are 1-4 SU in their last five games at home and are 0-6-1 ATS in their last seven games on home turf.
Seattle is going to need their running game to come up big on Sunday and with improved offensive line play, I think that it will happen. Seattle, despite some road woes defied the odds against New York. Look for the confidence from that game to carry over. Only one team will emerge .500 on Sunday – bank on it being the Seattle Seahawks.
Pick: Seattle Seahawks +3
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