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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Jeff Risdon

Browns are favored in Pittsburgh for the 1st time since 1989

The last time the Cleveland Browns were favored in a game in Pittsburgh, Bud Carson was making his debut as the head coach for the Browns. Clay Matthews returned a fumble for the Browns first touchdown and Tim Manoa ran for two scores in a 51-0 shellacking.

That was September 10th, 1989, the season opener for a Browns team that would eventually advance to the AFC Championship game. The Steelers were coming off a 5-11 season and trotted out Bubby Brister at QB. The Browns held him to 82 yards passing and five total first downs.

It’s been a very long time. Most of the Browns roster wasn’t even alive. Coach Freddie Kitchens was a high school freshman. And given how the Steelers still have a better record this year than the Browns, it’s a little odd to see. But here we are.

At BetMGM, the Browns are 1.5-point favorites in Pittsburgh. Some other books have the Browns favored by as many as 2.5 points, but the 1.5 figure is the standard.

Nobody is expecting 51-0, but the line in that game back in 1989 was just two points. Not saying, just sayin’…

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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