Cleveland Browns vs. Seattle Seahawks Week 8 Betting Picks & Predictions

Cleveland Browns (4-2 SU, 3-3 ATS) vs. Seattle Seahawks (4-2 SU, 3-2-1 ATS)

Week 8 NFL

Date/Time: Sunday, October 29, 2023 at 4:05PM EDT

Where: Lumen Field, Seattle, Washington

TV: Fox

Point Spread: CLE +3/SEA -3 (Bovada)

Money Line: CLE +145, SEA -170

Over/Under Total: 40

The Cleveland Browns come to Lumen Field on Sunday to take on the Seattle Seahawks in a battle of 4-2 teams. Each team is coming off a successful Week 7. Seattle was able to hold it down at home against division rival Arizona in a 20-10 win and after losing in week one, they have now won 4 out of 5. But to the surprise of some, Cleveland is also 4-2, having braved a series of injuries to stay on the right path. On Sunday, they dug hard on both sides of the ball to get a 39-38 win on the road over the Colts. Who can get it done in this big week 8 showdown?

Injuries Impacting the Browns

In addition to being without lead back Nick Chubb, Cleveland has also dealt with other injuries, including Deshaun Watson missing time. Back in action last week, he was removed from the game after a hit and his status isn’t clearly known as of press-time, though there have been some signs things might not be as bad as they seemed. If someone told the Browns they’d be 4-2 with all the personnel setbacks, they’d likely have taken that deal. They still have a good offensive line where backs Jerome Ford and Kareem Hunt can still thrive. They unfortunately lost Ford, however, with the duties now falling on Hunt. Amari Cooper is still a weapon. And even though it rings empty after giving up a ton to Gardner Minshew and the Colts, the Browns’ defense has some good things going for it too.

Tough Spot for Cleveland?

Resilient through their first six games, facing a back-to-back road spot after a demanding game against Indy last week and coming into Seattle might not set up on paper as a spot for a Browns bonanza. Sure, Seattle seems vulnerable for a team winning as much as they have in the last season and a half. But they’re nice and dug in at home, having just cruised to an easy-breezy win over Arizona where they hardly had to exert themselves. They’re fresh, relatively free from injuries, and just seem to have a lot of conditions in their favor for this week.

We’ve seen a wide range of play from the Browns’ defense this season. They’ve held Cincinnati and Tennessee to just three points apiece in their games, while holding San Francisco to 17 in an upset win. But then we see them struggling against Pittsburgh and Indy. It doesn’t make a lot of sense, with Myles Garrett and a lot of talent on that side of the ball, but they’ve been hit-and-miss. And being away from home has not been to their liking thus far.

The Browns defense could benefit from a Seattle offensive group that suffers from some of the same consistency issues. After pounding Detroit and Carolina earlier in the season, we’re seeing more tepid performances. Some of that is going to be naturally take place with Seattle often times sitting on a lead conservatively, but sometimes Geno Smith and Company aren’t on fire. They would likely be expecting DK Metcalf to return and with Tyler Lockett and a burgeoning support cast, along with RB Kenneth Walker, II., a home Seattle offense against a defense that suddenly looks to have gone a bit sideways seems like good spot for Seahawks backers.

Things to Consider

Sometimes being strong along both lines of scrimmage, good coaching, and being able to run the ball can get it done. Cleveland is pretty under-the-radar and a lot of people likely suspect a nosedive from them at some point here sooner than later. Deshaun Watson, even under more-ideal conditions, wasn’t seeing the success he had in Houston carry over to his new team. PJ Walker and Dorian Thompson-Robinson are hardly exciting options in the backup role should Watson not be able to go. And while Cooper is still seeing decent work, the rest of the ball-catching crew, with TE David Njoku, WR Elijah Moore, and others are really rotting on a vine.

Seattle has a more-appealing structure, with resurgent Geno Smith commandeering an offense with some established pieces. But what you get in top-line receivers, a better lead back, and less injuries at the skill-positions, you give up in other areas. And it is those areas Cleveland will be looking to flex on the Seahawks this week. And not all of it is a pipe-dream, namely Myles Garrett pitted against this O-line that while not as bad as it’s been in the past, is still not great. And while the Seattle “D” has fared well against the rush in some spots this season, the Seahawks defensive front is still a group that might get pushed around a bit this week. And again, this is all predicated on there being some consistency or predictability with these teams this season. Relying on what you most recently saw with either team this season would have led to a lot of lost bets.

Lay the Points on the Home Favorite

Last week showed that once again, away from home, the Browns’ defense is less apt to deliver. Against the right offense that is balanced and can pepper all kinds of passes in there, the Cleveland “D” might be up against it. Being on the road after that drag-out war last week, with Seattle having faced a less-demanding recent run of games, sets up well for Seattle to come out on Sunday and smother the Browns with higher energy and more points coming from a more-intact offense. I’ll take the Seahawks in this one.

Loot’s Prediction to Cover the Point Spread: I’m betting on the Seattle Seahawks minus 3 points.