The Cleveland Browns will be the first team to test Trevor Lawrence in a real NFL game setup, as they face the Jacksonville Jaguars this weekend. Will the Browns spoil Lawrence’s debut? Or will the Jags go 1-0 to kick things off in the preseason?
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Betting Preview for the Cleveland Browns vs Jacksonville Jaguars Preseason Week 1 Game on August 14, 2021
Where: TIAA Bank Field, Jacksonville
When: Saturday, August 14, 2021, 7:00 PM ET
Line: Cleveland Browns (+1.5) vs Jacksonville Jaguars (-1.5) – view all 2021 NFL lines
TV Broadcast: NFL Network
Betting on the Cleveland Browns (+1.5)
Regular Season Record: 0-0
Expectations are high on the Browns this year following their playoff appearance last season — their first in almost two decades. This is a stacked Cleveland team that’s about to give headaches to opposing teams. Baker Mayfield is surrounded by arguably the best 1-2 punch in the backfield in Kareem Hunt and Nick Chubb and also a scary tandem downfield in Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham Jr. But for this game against the Jaguars, the stars will take a backseat to the second and third stringers. Case Keenum and Kyle Lauletta both figure to share snaps under center, while D’Ernest Johnson and Demetric Felton should handle the business on the ground. The Browns also have gotten better on defense, at least on paper. Rookies CB Greg Newsome and LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah will look to show their value to the Browns’ stop unit that got ran over a season ago.
The Browns are 7-3 against the spread in their last 10 preseason games.
Betting on the Jacksonville Jaguars (-1.5)
Regular Season Record: 0-0
It’s Trevor Lawrence time in Jacksonville. All eyes will be on the first-overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft, the man many consider as the savior of the Jaguars’ franchise that has long been looking for stability under center. There’s a long way to go for Lawrence, but this game against the Browns will be a fantastic test for the rookie out of Clemson. He’ll get support from his fellow rookie and former college teammate in running back Travis Etienne. Jacksonville’s receiving corps took a hit with CJ Chark undergoing minor surgery on his hand, though it’s not expected to keep him out of Week 1 of the regular season. Still, that could mean more run in this preseason game for the likes of Collin Johnson, Pharoh Cooper, and Laquon Treadwell. Of course, there’s the Tim Tebow Watch. Tebow is hoping to make the final roster cuts as a tight end, so this is a chance for him to impress.
The under is 3-1 in the Jags’ last four preseason games
Writer’s Prediction
The Browns win, 20-17.
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