In Week 3 of the 2024 NFL season, the New York Giants face off against the Cleveland Browns in what promises to be a pivotal game for both teams. The Giants, coming off a narrow 21-18 loss to the Washington Commanders, will be desperate for their first win.
Despite a clean week 2 performance from quarterback Daniel Jones, the Giants' offense has struggled to find consistency, leaving them with a 0-2 record. If Daboll and Danny Dimes can find a way to move the ball on the Browns' defense, they'll have a shot to pull off the upset as Cleveland's offense enters ranked just 26th in the NFL.
On the other side, the Cleveland Browns head into this matchup with momentum, following an 18-13 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Led by wide receiver Jerry Jeudy's breakout performance, the Browns are looking to build on their first win and climb further up the standings.
With the Browns' defense in mid-season form and the Giants searching for answers on both sides of the ball, this game offers intriguing betting opportunities.
We'll break down the key matchups, analyze the odds, and give our best predictions for this important Week 3 clash.
Cleveland opens as a 6.5-point favorite at home. This is a critical number that indicates bookmakers expect to take money on the Browns even as a heavy favorite. If we see the odds move to -7 or -7.5, it would be a strong indication that the majority of public money is backing Cleveland here.
The total sits at 38.5 points, which is the second-lowest total for the week, only higher than the Chargers-Steelers game. This is another indicator that bookmakers have the Browns considerably higher in power rankings, and are predicting a final score of 23-16 in favor of Cleveland.
The Giants' implied total of 16 points is tied with Carolina's for the lowest this week.
It's been hard to trust the Giants at any point during the Daniel Jones/Brian Daboll era. Something has to give in this matchup. The Giants are 6-3 ATS in their last 9 games, while Cleveland is 6-1 ATS in their last 7. The total has gone under in 12 of the Giants' last 17 games, but has gone over in 5 of the Browns' last 6.
Keep an eye on the injury report throughout the week, the Browns offensive line is banged up with Jack Conklin and Jedrick Wills both questionable. If both are ruled out, we would bet the under and take the points with the Giants.
Prediction: Giants 17 - Browns 20