NFL Week 5 Picks: Cleveland Browns vs. New York Giants

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The New York Giants are coming off a disappointing loss against the Philadelphia Eagles. This happens to be a very important factor to consider when handicapping their upcoming matchup against the Cleveland Browns to be held at MetLife Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Sports bettors will find that the defending Super Bowl champions are currently nine-point home favorites in the Week 5 NFL betting odds (courtesy of SBR Forum), while the total is holding steady at 44.

Let's take a closer look at this non-conference affair from a betting perspective, while also providing a pick on the total along the way. 

Cleveland Browns

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The Cleveland Browns suffered a 23-16 setback to the Baltimore Ravens as 11.5-point road underdogs on Sept. 27, while going under the total for a second consecutive week.

With a few extra days of preparation, I'm expecting the Browns to take a step forward offensively, especially rookie Brandon Weeden.

The over is 5-2 in the team's last seven games after playing Baltimore.

New York Giants

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New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning should be able to move the ball with ease against the Cleveland Browns, even without the services of wide receiver Hakeem Nicks, who will miss his third straight game with a foot injury.

The OVER is 4-0-1 in their last five games after playing the Philadelphia Eagles, which sets up nicely with the Browns still missing star cornerback Joe Haden.

From a situational standpoint, the Giants have also gone above the total in their last three games off a close loss by seven or fewer points against a division rival.

Las Vegas Perspective

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I reached out to Jimmy Vaccaro earlier this week about this high-profile affair. He serves as the public relations director for William Hill US, and here's what he had to say:

"Cleveland has been competitive, but they're up against it here with the Giants coming off of a bad loss to the Eagles last Sunday despite the shorter week on the home team's side."

Total Prediction

As discussed in the video, I'm a little concerned about the Sunday's weather in the Big Apple, as the most up-to-date forecast is calling for a 70-percent chance of rain and temperatures in the mid-50s.

I suggest that readers proceed with caution when playing this total, but it's important to note that wind is often the most important factor to handicap in making this type of wager.

Definitely take advantage of any overreaction in the market if it ends in light precipitation in the MetLife Stadium area.

NFL Week 5 Total Pick: Over 44

 

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