Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Marcus Mariota. Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

NFL bets: Browns-Eagles preseason 'TNF' can still make you $$$, if you know where to look

By Jack Dougherty | Last updated Aug 17, 2023 2:33 PM ET

Week 2 of the 2023 NFL preseason gets underway with a warmup version of "Thursday Night Football" between the Cleveland Browns and the Philadelphia Eagles. We may not see a single starter from either team take the field Thursday night, but that doesn't mean there aren't valuable ways to attack this matchup from a betting perspective. Let's get into some picks, shall we?

Cleveland Browns @ Philadelphia Eagles odds and betting breakdown

Tonight's odds: Eagles -4, over/under 35.5, Eagles -192 moneyline | Browns +160 moneyline

This would be an electric matchup between Jalen Hurts and Deshaun Watson, but neither quarterback is expected to play in Thursday night's game. Instead, the Browns will trot out rookie QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who has completed 17 of his 21 pass attempts for 184 yards and two touchdowns and added 47 yards rushing this preseason. Kellen Mond will likely relieve DTR in the second half.

Marcus Mariota should get the start for the Eagles, but seeing as he's already locked up the backup job, the Oregon product may not play a full half. Tanner McKee and Ian Book should dominate the QB snaps with the third-string job still up for grabs.

TNF picks

Browns +4 (-112 DraftKings)

I understand why the Eagles have been bet up over a field goal in this game. Mariota is by far the most accomplished QB who will be suiting up Thursday night, but I don't see why he would play more than one quarter with the QB3 spot still undecided. If most of the game is going to be Thompson-Robinson and Mond against McKee and Book, I'm giving the most important preseason advantage to the Browns here.

Additionally, Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni likes to play it safe in the preseason. Philadelphia is 1-5-1 straight up and 2-5 against the spread in the Sirianni tenure, while Cleveland is 5-3 straight up and ATS under head coach Kevin Stefanski.

Under 35.5 (-110 FanDuel)

DTR has been one of the biggest surprises of the preseason, but I think he'll struggle to replicate those first two performances against the Eagles' young core of defenders. Georgia standouts Nolan Smith and Jalen Carter are going to make Thompson-Robinson's life difficult in the pocket, and Philly's talented cornerback room is one of the deepest in the NFL.

If the fourth quarter comes down to Mond and Book as expected, we could be in for an ugly finish to TNF. I'm not afraid of this unimpressive group of QBs lighting up the scoreboard, especially because they'll be throwing to second-, third- and fourth-stringers all night.

Jack Dougherty

Jack Dougherty has been writing professionally since 2015, contributing to publications such as GoPSUSports. com, Centre Daily Times, Associated Press, and Sportscasting. com

More must-reads: