Lawrence Status Up in the Air For Jags
Jaguars vs Browns Spreads See Cleveland Favored
The biggest news surrounding the Jacksonville at Cleveland game is the NFL injury report. Jacksonville quarterback Trevor Lawrence hasn’t been ruled out for the game with his high ankle sprain. But if he’s not 100%, he needs to sit. The team and Lawrence were non-committal during Wednesday’s media session. The Jaguars vs Browns spreads see Cleveland favored by 3 points (-120) at home, and the total on the game is just 30.5. That total could be a clue the sportsbook isn’t expecting Lawrence to be on the field.
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cleveland Browns 
Day/Time:
Location: Cleveland Browns Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio
Streaming: CBS
Line: Cleveland -3 (-120)
Total: 30.5
Jaguars Different Team Without Lawrence
It’s hard to get a read on how the Jaguars will perform without Lawrence. C.J. Beathard is the backup quarterback and his NFL QB stats aren’t bad. But he’s also thrown just 27 passes in the last three years with the Jags. But Beathard isn’t 100% himself and was a limited participant in practice on Wednesday. CFL standout Nathan Rourke is next in the pecking order at quarterback.
But whoever gets the nod at quarterback is going to be in for a tough game. The Browns have a solid defense, allowing just 260.5 yards per game. Cleveland allows 20.4 points per game, partly due to the team being -8 in turnovers. It certainly isn’t because the defense is allowing plenty of long drives.
If Cleveland has a defensive weaknesses, it would be stopping the run. The Browns allow 4.2 yards per carry. But the running game is where Jacksonville struggles the most, gaining just 3.6 yards per rush.
The Jaguars need to throw the ball to be successful. Jacksonville is averaging 243.6 passing yards per game. The Jags are gaining 7.0 yards per pass attempt, so they’re getting the job done through the air.
Jacksonville’s defense hasn’t played as well this season as it did last year. The Jaguars are allowing 21.6 points per game and allowing 261.7 passing yards per game. They have to do better than that if they expect to do anything in the postseason.
Browns Coming Off Bad Performances
The Cleveland Browns are coming off a couple of disappointing efforts, losing the last two games by 17 points apiece. Cleveland’s defense, which is still ranked No. 1 in the NFL, has allowed 29 or more points in three of the last four games. That makes the Jaguars vs Browns spreads of 30.5 on the total a little surprising.
The Browns are having some quarterback issues with Deshaun Watson sidelined. PJ Walker didn’t get the job done and has been relegated to third string. Dorian Thompson-Robinson is listed as the starter. However, he was a limited participant in Wednesday’s practice due to a concussion. Joe Flacco could get the start again if Thompson-Robinson is unable to go.
The Browns will likely look to run the ball and control the clock. Cleveland rushes 32.5 times per game and has more than 33 minutes of time of possession. That could be big in this game.
The Browns need the defense to pick themselves back up and play how it did in the first nine weeks of the season. They have too much talent to play like they have the last month.
What to Expect
With both teams having quarterback issues and a good probability of rain on Sunday, expect a lot of running plays. The Jags don’t run the ball all that well, but that could be their best opportunity to move the ball on the Browns if Beathard is under center. Cleveland is tough to throw against, and Jacksonville will try to keep passes to a minimum.
It’s much the same story for the Browns. With Watson sidelined, the team hasn’t gotten very good play out of Walker or Thompson-Robinson. Flacco did an admirable job in his start after being with the team for a short time. The Browns run the ball more than Jacksonville, so they shouldn’t have a problem keeping it on the ground.
Who to Bet On?
Both teams have fared well against the NFL betting lines. The Jags are 8-4 straight-up and 8-4 against the spread. Cleveland is 7-5 straight-up and 7-5 against the line. But this is a bit of a tough game to handicap due to all the uncertainty.
The Jaguars vs Browns spreads of Cleveland -3 (-120) and the total is a good indication Lawrence won’t be playing here. He may want to, but the Jaguars should give him some extra rest. With Cleveland also having quarterback problems, this is a game Jacksonville can win without Lawrence. But the defense will need to come up big.
The number is low, but the only way to play this one is to take the under 30.5.
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