Seattle Seahawks at Cleveland Browns
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The Seattle Seahawks aren't going to win a NFL popularity contest, but they are 3-2 ATS on the year and coming in off a bye.
It's important to note that all three losses have come against quality opponents, including a 33-17 season-opening loss to the San Francisco 49ers due to allowing two special teams' scores in the final quarter.
Cleveland is coming off a 24-17 loss to the
Oakland Raiders as seven-point road underdogs, gaining just 268 total yards, while losing the time-of-possession battle by over nine minutes.
The Raiders are one of the more physical teams in the league, likely taking something out of the
Browns, which doesn't have me running to the windows to lay even the smallest of numbers.
In fact, the team is 0-2-1 ATS as a home favorite already this year, coming in with the 30th-ranked rushing attack in the NFL.
Star running back Peyton Hillis is also likely out of the conversation this weekend, undergoing an MRI that confirmed an injured left hamstring that was suffered Sunday.
He was a huge part of the team's success running the football last year but also caused the AFC squad to be overvalued due to being on the cover of Madden 2012.
Oddsmakers already established this line with the potential of him not seeing the field.
Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll just watched his nemesis Jim Harbaugh push his record to 5-1 on the season, providing the necessary motivation to fly around with excitement in practice, something he was known for at USC.
He captured a 23-20 win over the
Chicago Bears as six-point road underdogs off the bye last yeara team that ended up playing in the NFC Championship Game.
Cleveland isn't making a run to the Super Bowl.
Pick: Seattle Seahawks (+3)