A look at NFL handicapping with the PFW editor lobbying to become Las Vegas bureau chief.
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How badly are the Browns and Buccaneers struggling? Enough so that a Nevada sportsbook chain is taking bets on whether they will go winless this season.
According to Lucky's Race and Sport Book, the Bucs are +850 to go 0-16, meaning bettors would win $85 for every $10 successfully wagered. The Browns are +1500. (The maximum Lucky's will take on these props is $500.)
If choosing to take a positive view on either Tampa Bay or Cleveland, note that the Buccaneers are -1200 to win at least one game, while the Browns are -2000. This means bettors would have to wager $120 to clear $10 upon the Bucs' first win and $200 to collect a cool $10 in profit if the Browns finally break into the win column.
One small surprise: the significantly lower odds on the Bucs' going winless as compared to the Browns. However, Tampa Bay's upcoming schedule looks tougher than Cleveland's. The Browns get cracks at Detroit, Kansas City and Oakland in the final seven weeks of the season, while the Bucs' easiest games appear to be Sunday's game at Washington, a pair of games vs. Carolina and a Nov. 15 game at Miami. Also, while both the Browns and Buccaneers have made QB changes this week, the Browns have gone with a veteran who's led them to 14 of their last 15 wins (Derek Anderson) while the Bucs are going with young Josh Johnson.
Bettors at Lucky's can also take a crack a prop bet setting the Over-Under on the combined wins for the Buccaneers, Rams and Browns at 10½. The vig on both the Over and the Under is the standard -110.