NFL Sure Bets: Cleveland Browns, Oakland Raiders

Nothing is a "sure bet" but with the NFL season fast approaching, Gambling911.com will be presenting its arguments as to why certain teams deserve some betting consideration.

Case in point:  The Cleveland Browns.

There is currently a quarterback controversy in Cleveland and the competition is fierce.  The only problem:  Neither quarterback performed well last season.

Derek Anderson went 3-6 in his starts last year with 9 touchdowns and 8 interceptions before getting injured.  Brady Quinn went 1-2 with 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. 

Worse still, radio analyst and former NFL player Boomer Esiason fears that the ''environment of insecurity'' created by Cleveland Browns coach Eric Mangini will prevent the winner of the quarterback competition between Quinn and Derek Anderson from succeeding in the long run.

''Everything is buttoned up there, everybody's afraid of everybody else,'' Esiason said.

And speaking of being afraid....Oakland Raiders coach, Tom Cable, denies he punched assistant coach Randy Hanson earlier this month, resulting in a broken jaw.

For a team that has not had sufficient locker room chemistry over the past several years, this situation can bode well for 2009.  Hanson has hired an attorney and may sue Cable and the Raiders.  Just what the Raiders need:  More distractions.

Oakland only plays 4 games where the opponent won under 8 games in 2008.  Two of those games are against the Kansas City Chiefs, who should improve, and the oddsmakers have them pegged as winning OVER 6 regular season games at -115.

The NFL sure bets to date: 

Cleveland Browns winning UNDER 6 ½ 2009 regular season games at -130.
Oakland Raiders winning UNDER 5 ½ 2009 regular season games at +125.

Don Shapiro, Gambling911.com