2% Teaser Cleveland (+3 to 9) and Denver (+2.5 to +8.5) - Not exactly a traditional “wong teaser” here with the Browns going from +3 to +9, but I just don’t trust Deshaun Watson to stay within a field goal, on the road, in an otherwise attractive spot to back his team as a dog. We’re still teasing above three and through seven here with the Browns, so this is hardly “sacrilege.” Now the way Watson played last week was pretty sacreligious, but consider that was against a very good Cowboys team and with a terribly banged up offensive line. Fingers crossed that either Conklin or Willis is able to return this week to protect Watson. But the defense will also need to be better than it was LY on the road. That shouldn’t be a problem with opposing QB Trevor Lawrence having now lost six straight starts (longest active streak in the league) and the Jaguars’ offense going just 2 for 10 on third down in the Week 1, “come from ahead” loss to the Dolphins. Overall, Lawrence is 8-9 SU all-time as a favorite. The Browns’ defense actually allowed just 4.4 YPP and 265 total yards last week. The Jags defense allowed 300+ yards passing in Week 1 and they just lost their top CB (Tyson Campbell). So there’s hope for Watson, in the midst of what I’ll call “challenging times.” It’s out of respect for my Jags (+130) ticket to make the playoffs that I’m teasing here, but Week 2 underdogs off a DD loss are 38-23-1 ATS since ‘05. 

Denver is a more “traditional” tease and the reason I’m using them as the second leg is simple. Pittsburgh never seems to win games by more than eight points. It only happened ONCE all of last season (34-11, at home, over the Jake Browning-led Bengals) and in the 18-10 Week 1 win at Atlanta, the offense did not score a TD, instead settling for six field goals. That hardly sounds like a recipe for success in the second of B2B road games, at a tough place to play (Mile High) and Broncos’ HC Sean Payton is traditionally one of the best after a SU loss. Let’s not forget that Pittsburgh is still starting Justin Fields at QB. This will be his first time closing as a road favorite. I don’t necessarily trust Denver to keep this within a field goal, but keeping it within 8 points sounds very viable. 2% Teaser: Browns (+9 or better) and Broncos (+9 or better)