Cleveland Browns vs New York Giants Predictions, Picks, Odds and Betting Preview – NFL Preseason Week 2 – August 9, 2018

The New York Giants are under a new head coach in Pat Shurmur, who was once upon a time a mentor of the Cleveland Browns. In Week 2 of the preseason, his Giants will face his former team in an interesting showdown in East Rutherford. The Browns did not win any games last season, but went undefeated in the preseason a year ago. Will their undefeated streak in August games continue? Or will the Giants take Cleveland down?

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Betting Preview for the Cleveland Browns vs New York Giants NFL Preseason Week 2 Game on August 9, 2018

Where: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford

When: Thursday, August 9, 2018, 7:00 PM ET

Line: Cleveland Browns (+2.5) vs New York Giants (-2.5) – view all 2018 NFL lines

TV Broadcast: NFL Game Pass

Betting on the Cleveland Browns (+2.5)

The Browns embarrassed themselves last season like they always do. That said, there’s a number of reasons to be an optimist Cleveland fan these days, even if the standards remain closer to the ground than to the ceiling. They have a new quarterback in Tyrod Taylor, though, it’s Baker Mayfield that everyone wants to see in the preseason. Taylor is virtually assured of the starting quarterback job in the regular season, but if Mayfield wants to make change the narrative, a strong preseason showing would definitely help him.  There’s also a new order of power in the run game with Carlos Hyde now in Cleveland along with rookie Nick Chubb. Hyde is considered as the No. 1running back, but anyone from the pair of Chubb and Duke Johnson can take over that role. That’s one the Browns would like to settle this offseason and these preseason games will help a lot in determining the starting running back. The Browns are 4-0 ATS in their last four August games.

Betting on the New York Giants (-2.5)

With all due respect to Nick Chubb, if there’s a running back most people would want to see in this game, it’s Saquon Barkley. The Browns could have drafted Barkley No. 1 overall this year, but opted to spend their top pick on Mayfield. That could be used by Barkley as an extra motivation to go hard this Thursday.  There isn’t a big reason for Eli Manning to start or play at all in this game, but Davis Webb and rookie Kyle Lauletta have, as the two continue to strengthen their respective cases for the backup role. The Giants’ defense that imploded last season will also be getting scrutinized in the preseason, albeit with most starters not seeing action. Rookie defensive tackle R.J. McIntosh, however, is expected to play. Cornerback Sam Beal, selected in the 2010 Supplemental Draft, would have provided intrigue in the preseason had he not gone under the knife to repair a shoulder injury. The Giants are 4-3 ATS in their last seven preseason outings.

Writer’s Prediction

Cleveland wins, 21-20.

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