NFL Week 8 Preview: Cleveland Browns @ San Francisco 49ers

Sports Betting Overview

The Cleveland Browns are starting to feel the same growing pains that any improving team would feel. The problem for the Browns is that these pains are real. Running back Peyton Hillis is still unable to play and wide receivers Josh Cribbs and Mohamed Massaquoi are still recovering from injuries. The wide receivers may play, but they will not be at full speed. Hillis will be out for this game against San Francisco. The price per head sports injuries that the Browns are suffering contributed to the lack of offense in week seven against the Seattle Seahawks. Cleveland could only muster two field goals in that game, and things do not propose to be any better against the San Francisco 49ers.

The San Francisco 49ers do not do any single thing particularly well. But the 49ers win games because it does know how to play well in important situations. It was no small feat to hand the Detroit Lions its first loss of the season after destroying the Tampa Bay Buccaneers the week before. The San Francisco 49ers have quietly become one of the best teams in the NFL and the only real off-season change was the head coach. A bookie software analysis of the 49ers roster shows many of the same guys that could not win last year still playing for the team. Aside from running back Frank Gore, there are no superstars on this team. It is just a really good football team.

Cleveland Browns

The Browns’ offense has been struggling all season because it cannot stay healthy. Running back Peyton Hillis is a huge part of the offensive game plan for the Browns and he has been out for three weeks now. With the wide receivers injured and its star running back out, the Browns have very little to work with when it comes to generating points. But quarterback Colt McCoy has managed to bring the team to a 3-3 record. That could slip below .500 by the time this game is over.

San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers roster is full of NFL picks no one else wanted. New head coach Jim Harbaugh kept struggling quarterback Alex Smith because no other team wanted him and Harbaugh saw great things for Smith. Under Harbaugh, Smith has not necessarily become more prolific with his passing yards, but he has become more efficient at scoring points. Smith has eight touchdown passes compared to only two interceptions this season. He is giving the 49ers a chance to win, and San Francisco is taking full advantage of that chance.

The Bottom Line

The Browns are turning into a very good football team, but its offense is wounded. Cleveland could only manage two field goals against a very bad Seattle Seahawks’ defense. The Cleveland defense is playing well and should be able to keep the Browns in this game. But the intertops advantage has to go to San Francisco.

Pick: San Francisco 49ers