Cleveland Browns +7½
This is an "unscheduled" 4-UNIT release as the awful Browns burned me in the snow at Cleveland just one week ago. However, yesterday's announcement that Miami has officially hired LSU's Nick Saban as their new head coach for 2005 has set up a UNIQUE wagering opportunity. Of course the Dolphins are coming off a miracle Monday Night outright victory against a New England team than entered on a massive 27-1 overall run. The day after that triumph, interim head coach Jim Bates interviewed with owner Wayne Huizenga for a possible permanent job. I mentioned in my Monday Night analysis that Bates had been doing an excellent job motivating the Miami players who publicly have stated that they LIKE him. Miami is 2-3 since Bates took over, with those three defeats coming by a combined 20 points! Now with yesterday's announcement that Saban has been hired, Miami is in a huge "letdown" situation as the players will NOT have the same coach who has MOTIVATED them in the past five weeks. In addition we have the inevitable "letdown" following that shocking Monday Night upset over the mighty Patriots. I can just hear all of you screaming that Cleveland is awful and has completely given up on a lost campaign that has seen a grand total of 18 players go down with season-ending injuries. I can hear your screams claiming that the Browns have been outscored by an incredible 100-22 margin in the past three weeks under interim head coach Terry Robiskie. However, the players actually LIKE Robiskie and the Browns, who were also in the Nick Saban derby, have NOT made a final determination on next year's head coach which could still end up being Robiskie who was placed in an almost hopeless situation following the forced resignation of Butch Davis. I want you all to be aware that 2 of the 3 Cleveland games under the Robiskie watch have been against the leagues' two HOTTEST teams (Chargers and Bills). Tonight they have a legitimate shot at being competitive against a Miami team that has the third LOWEST scoring team in the NFL (second worst offense in yards per game). Miami has had constant problems with a YOUNG offensive line that is both inexperienced and careless. Their leading rusher Sammy Morris has gained a total of just 365 total yards so far. QB A.J. Feeley's decision making has often come into question. The Dolphins have survived all year long through the strength of their defense which will be bolstered by the return of star LB Zach Thomas (hamstring) to the lineup. But their is even a major problem with the Dolphins defense that has allowed the third MOST rushing yards in the league. If Cleveland is able to RUN the football this evening, a ton of pressure will be taken off of young QB Luke McCown who will be spurred on by the fact that his FATHER will be in the stands tonight to watch him at Pro Player Stadium! What are the odds of Cleveland actually garnering a RUSHING attack tonight?? They are actually very good because RB Lee Suggs is finally getting a shot at a STARTING slot tonight as a replacement for the struggling William Green. Suggs has waited 15 games and 2' months for a starting assignment that was supposed to happen much earlier in this campaign. The Browns fall under a total of 22 different SYSTEMS in my database research. Here are a few. A 42-16 long-term angle (72%) goes AGAINST home favorites after a win of 6-or-LESS points, against an opponent that has scored LESS than 18 ppg in 3 consecutive weeks. Here is an 81-PERCENT SYSTEM that dates back to 1983. This 31-7 System go AGAINST favorites like Miami in a game involving two poor rushing teams that are outrushed by at least 40 yards a game, after coming off a contest where their opponent outrushed them by at least 100 yards. Both "intangibles" and "systems" support the lowly Browns tonight.
GOOD LUCK
This is an "unscheduled" 4-UNIT release as the awful Browns burned me in the snow at Cleveland just one week ago. However, yesterday's announcement that Miami has officially hired LSU's Nick Saban as their new head coach for 2005 has set up a UNIQUE wagering opportunity. Of course the Dolphins are coming off a miracle Monday Night outright victory against a New England team than entered on a massive 27-1 overall run. The day after that triumph, interim head coach Jim Bates interviewed with owner Wayne Huizenga for a possible permanent job. I mentioned in my Monday Night analysis that Bates had been doing an excellent job motivating the Miami players who publicly have stated that they LIKE him. Miami is 2-3 since Bates took over, with those three defeats coming by a combined 20 points! Now with yesterday's announcement that Saban has been hired, Miami is in a huge "letdown" situation as the players will NOT have the same coach who has MOTIVATED them in the past five weeks. In addition we have the inevitable "letdown" following that shocking Monday Night upset over the mighty Patriots. I can just hear all of you screaming that Cleveland is awful and has completely given up on a lost campaign that has seen a grand total of 18 players go down with season-ending injuries. I can hear your screams claiming that the Browns have been outscored by an incredible 100-22 margin in the past three weeks under interim head coach Terry Robiskie. However, the players actually LIKE Robiskie and the Browns, who were also in the Nick Saban derby, have NOT made a final determination on next year's head coach which could still end up being Robiskie who was placed in an almost hopeless situation following the forced resignation of Butch Davis. I want you all to be aware that 2 of the 3 Cleveland games under the Robiskie watch have been against the leagues' two HOTTEST teams (Chargers and Bills). Tonight they have a legitimate shot at being competitive against a Miami team that has the third LOWEST scoring team in the NFL (second worst offense in yards per game). Miami has had constant problems with a YOUNG offensive line that is both inexperienced and careless. Their leading rusher Sammy Morris has gained a total of just 365 total yards so far. QB A.J. Feeley's decision making has often come into question. The Dolphins have survived all year long through the strength of their defense which will be bolstered by the return of star LB Zach Thomas (hamstring) to the lineup. But their is even a major problem with the Dolphins defense that has allowed the third MOST rushing yards in the league. If Cleveland is able to RUN the football this evening, a ton of pressure will be taken off of young QB Luke McCown who will be spurred on by the fact that his FATHER will be in the stands tonight to watch him at Pro Player Stadium! What are the odds of Cleveland actually garnering a RUSHING attack tonight?? They are actually very good because RB Lee Suggs is finally getting a shot at a STARTING slot tonight as a replacement for the struggling William Green. Suggs has waited 15 games and 2' months for a starting assignment that was supposed to happen much earlier in this campaign. The Browns fall under a total of 22 different SYSTEMS in my database research. Here are a few. A 42-16 long-term angle (72%) goes AGAINST home favorites after a win of 6-or-LESS points, against an opponent that has scored LESS than 18 ppg in 3 consecutive weeks. Here is an 81-PERCENT SYSTEM that dates back to 1983. This 31-7 System go AGAINST favorites like Miami in a game involving two poor rushing teams that are outrushed by at least 40 yards a game, after coming off a contest where their opponent outrushed them by at least 100 yards. Both "intangibles" and "systems" support the lowly Browns tonight.
GOOD LUCK
