NFL Betting: Cleveland Browns vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Odds, Preseason Analysis

NFL preseason games that match two teams trying to create winning atmospheres can be difficult for both oddsmakers to line and bettors to pick. That's the situation with Friday night's meeting between the Cleveland Browns and Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium.

The Buccaneers are favored by 3.5 points at sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark for the contest.

Browns vs. Buccaneers Overview

The Browns continue to plod along as probably the worst franchise in football. Two seasons ago, Cleveland started 7-4; since then, it has won just three of its last 21 games.

Now the Browns go forward under yet another head coach, former Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Hue Jackson, and another new quarterback, Washington Redskins castoff Robert Griffin III. But this team seems destined to bring up the rear in the tough AFC North for at least a couple more seasons to come.

Tampa Bay, meanwhile, went 6-10 in its first season with Jameis Winston at quarterback last year. Then over the offseason, the Bucs dumped head coach Lovie Smith and promoted offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter to the top spot. So while they made a change, the philosophy on offense remains the same.

Cleveland is 0-2 both straight up and against the spread this preseason, according to the Odds Shark NFL Database. The Browns opened by losing at Green Bay 17-11, and then they lost at home last week to Atlanta 24-13. Cleveland managed just 172 yards of total offense against the Packers and just 243 against the Falcons. However, Griffin threw two early touchdown passes against Atlanta and left the game with a 13-7 lead.

Tampa Bay is 1-1 both SU and ATS so far this exhibition season, first losing at Philadelphia 17-9 and then winning at Jacksonville 27-21. The Bucs actually outgained the Eagles 329-188, but they turned the ball over five times. They then outgained the Jaguars 377-209 and cut the turnovers to two.

These teams last met two seasons ago for a November afternoon regular-season bout that Cleveland won 22-17. Tampa Bay covered that day as a seven-point underdog, and the game played under a total of 44 at the sportsbooks.

Browns vs. Buccaneers Betting Analysis

As we know, Week 3 of the exhibition season is where the starters play the most. If this were a Week 1 regular-season game, we would expect Tampa Bay to be favored by at least a field goal, maybe even four or five points, based mainly on the quarterbacks.

Tampa Bay also owns the edge in the running game and on defense. As long as the Bucs take this game seriously, perhaps prepping for a good start to the regular season, they stand a great chance of winning and covering Friday night.